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HISTORY 



)F THE 



CHURCHES OF SODUS 




BY LEWIS H, GLARK. 



SODUS, V. Y. 
1876, 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



CHURCHES OF SODCS, 



BY LEWIS H. CLARK. 

(I 



yet 



SODUS, N. Y. 
1876. 



■ScCb 



Entered according- to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by Lewis H, 
Clark, in the office of the Librarian of Cong>es ,' 

at Washington, D. C. 



APPENDIX 



SODUS CIRCUIT FORTY YEARS AGO . 

BY REV. JOSEPH CHAPMAN. 

Newark, N. Y., July 4. 

From the stand point now occupied it would be difficult for the 
present generation to clearly estimate what Sodus was some forty 
years since. In an early day it was generally regarded as an 
unhealthy section of country, and somewhat avoided on that ac- 
count. Methodism, however, found its way there in an organized 
form in the year 1813. The old Genesee Conference of the M. E . 
Church, has printed in its minutes as follows : 

"Sodus appointment 1813, Zenas Jones, pastor — number of mem- 
bers, 110 ; 1814, Ebenezer Doolittle — members 131 ; 1815, Joshua 
Rogers — members 123 ; 1816, Joseph McCreary — members 215. For 
the twelve years next succeeding, Sodus does not appear on the 
Conference minutes, being, as is supposed, merged into Lyons 
circuit. In 1828 and 1829, William Jones— members 280; 1830 
Zina J. Buck — members 300 ; 1831, Zina J. Buck- -members 344 ; 
1832, Joseph Tomkinson — members 382; 1833, Joseph Tomkinson 
and Asahel Aldrich— members 386; 1834, Benjaman Sabinand Wil- 
son Osband — members 414; 1835 Joseph Chapman — members 
363; 1836, Joseph Chapman and Sias Boles — members 375. At 
this time there was no house of worship on Sodus charge, though 
there were ten different places of meeting at school houses, as fol- 
lows: Jeffries Settlement, in the town of Rose; Wayne Center, 
in the t^ame town ; Hogaboonis Corners, in Arcadia ; Spyres', in 
the town of Lyons; South Sodus. Alton, Loomis' Mills, Sodus 
Centre, Granger's Settlement and Morse Hill. There were besides 
occasional appointments at Sodus village and at Sodus Point. 

Though Sodus circuit was so large, it was yet more enlarged by 
the addition of two important appointments from other charges. 
Fairville was by their request set off from 'Newark charge to Sodus 
circuit, and the society organized accordi ag to law. preparatory 
for building a meeting house. Lock Berlin, an out appointment 



of Clyde Station, way also by their request set oil" to Sodas circuit, 
and the society legally organized in order to build a house of wor- 
ship. A subs3ription for that purpose was circulated, and the 
house contracted during the year. At South Sodus in the summer 
of 1835, the walls oil a stone meeting house were erected and inclos- 
ed. This involved the society in what was in those days regarded 
as a heavy debt of $200, and apparently so embarrassed and dis- 
couraged them that there was but little hopes of soon finishing the 
house . By a decided effort, however, the house was completed 
and dedicated, after which there was a very marked revivaKof 
religion in the winter of 1836 and 7. The fruits of this with the 
accession from Newark and Clyde, raised the number of member- 
ship to 520, it being an increase of 145. There was then no Meth- 
odist society at Sodus village — the Episcopalians and Presbyterians 
occupied the ground The latter were very kind, and permitted 
the Methodists to occupy their house of worship for their Quar- 
terly meetings funerals and other meetings when they were rot 
using it. The present large society of Methodists at Sodus village, 
had its beginning in the union of the Granger Settlement and 
Loomis Kills society It is gencally admitted that this plan was 
well devised and a final success. 

Old Sodus Circuit long since was divided into several charges. 
On our Conference minutes they now stand -Sodus, South Sodus, 
Fairville and Sodus Point. Great and marked changes have come 
in rapid succession, such as were not then thought of. Memory 
reads up the records sf the past and we seem almost to live it over 
again. "Our fathers, where are they?" We think of them with 
sacred, solemn sadness. They were representative men of a former 
age. Having served their generation, they have departed and left 
their posterity to oppose the wrong and defend the right, by means 
efficient, infallible and Divinely chosen. It may be admissible 
in this connection to name souie of these men as they appear to 
pass familiarly before the minds eye. In the order of the appoint- 
ments named they stand thus: Barrett, Lyman, Morris, Spyres, 
Cuer, Aldrich, Robinson, Hill, Shaw, Rogers, Pullin, Green, 
Lbonard, Fields, Granger, Andrews, Knapp, Johnson, Collins and 
Morse. Of this score we know of but one that is left — Charles 
Fields with his help-mate, in the same pleasant home where so 
many have been welcomed and kindly entertained for the last fifty 
years— now in a good old age, beloved and respected by numerous 
friends, and still "waiting until the change shall come." 

The Centenary Chapel society in the western part of the town of 
Sodus, did not in those early days belong to Sodus, but to Pult- 
neyville and Walworth circuit, where the writer was stationed two 
years succeeding the fall of 1837. This now strong society had its 
mere germ at the school house on the Lake Road, called the Gates 
school house appointment. It met on week day evenings, was 
very small and feeble. The -weary and often sad itinerant, after 
the evening meeting here, was iuvited home to sister Gates', and 
often during the two years to the kind family of Eli ClarK, a Pres- 
byterian brother who wis interested in our little meetings, and 
sympathised with us in our weakness. Those small beginnings in 
labor and discouragement it would seem were "not in vain* in the 
Lord." 

"If it be of God it will prosper, but if of man it will come to 
naught." 



111. 

Vine-land, N. J., June 25th, 1876. 
Lewis H. Clark, Sodus N. Y. : 

Dear Sir : — I was born in the village of Geneva, Ontario county , 
New York, on the 18th of October, 1807, (and am consequently 
now in my 69th year.) J was educated mainly, preparatory to 
entering the junior class in college, in a select school taught by a 
retired Presbyterian clergyman by the name of Eddy; and having 
very early in life received impressions derogatory to the moral 
effect of college life, I declined to enter college, and prefering the 
profession of medicine to any other, Avith a passable knowledge of 
Greek and Latin, acquired in school, I entered upon the study with 
the kindred branches — Chemistry and Botany, under the tuition 
of Drs. Carter and Smith of Geneva, when about 18 years of age. 
Nearly four years of study, with a full course of lectures in the 
medical branch of Harvard College in Boston, in the winter of 
1829 — 30, gave me a diploma, and introduced me to the practice of 
Medicine and Surgery, in the village of Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. 
Y., in the spring .o| 1830. 

About the time I'commenced the study of medicine 1 also adopt- 
ed a pledge of total abstinence from tobacco and all distilled and 
fermented drinks as a beverage, which I have scrupulously kept 
until this day. 

My residence and practice of Medicine in Penn Yan was coinci- 
dent with the wonderful revivals of religion which swept through 
New England and the Northern states, and was effectual to the 
conversion and reformation of thousands, and very largely under 
the preaching of Charles G, Finney. While living in Penn Yan. I 
went to Geneva to hear Mr, Finney, and while sitting in a pew in 
the old Presbyterian Church (in which wheu a small boy I was 
baptised by my uncle, the pastor, Dr. Axtell, which event I well 
remember) I was ''begotten again to a hope of living" (1st Peter, 
1st and 3d) and since that instant, the "fear of death" has been 
taken away. 

In the summer of 1831 I united with the Presbyterian Church in 
Penn Yan, whieh was under the pastoral care of a very excellent 
clergyman," by the name of Ansel D. Eddy. 

In the spring of 1832, (the year of the first appearance of Asiatic 
Cholera in the United States) I removed from Penn Yan to Seneca 
Falls, Seneca Co., N. Y., and transferred my relations to the 
Presbytei ian church in that place. The only incident worthy of 
note in my medical career during wy three years practice in Seneca 
Falls, was the opportunity to give sight by a surgical operation to 
a child two years old, blind with ' 'congenital cataract, " who was 
brought from Yates county to meet me in Geneva, where the oper- 
t "ration was successfully performed; but patient and surgeon never 
met since. 

On August 14th, 1835, I was united in marriage to Caroline M. 
Ward, youngest daughter of Gen. Jasper Ward, of New l r ork City. 

The same year, having concluded to give up the practice of 
medicine, and purchased the west two hundred acres of the old 
Lummis farm, on the shore of Lake Ontario, we removed to Sodus 
in the spring of 1835, and transferred our relations of membership 
to the Presbyterian church in that place. 

There for thirty years we fought the battle of life together, 
"endeavoring always to keep a conscience void of offence toward 
God and man." There all our children, six daughters and three 



IV. 

sons were born. There two davghters and one son sleep in the 
dust of the earth, waiting for the awakening, by the last trumpet. 

The records of the. Church will show when I was ordained a Rul 
ing Elder. I think it was in 1836. The following year I was chosen 
by the Presbytery of Geneva a delegate to the General Assembly 
of the Presbyterian church, appointed to be held in the city of 
Philadelphia, in May, 1838. In company with Dr. Strong, pastor 
of the Church in Phelps, I attended that meeting in Philadelphia, 
and was -piesent when the famous act of "excision of the six 
Synods" was passed, and the division of the Presbyterian church 
in the United States into "Old" and "New School" took place, and 
continued until 1870, when the breach was supposed to be. healed. 

In all my personal and official relations with the Church in 
Sodus and with the world, the three great themes of Paul's appeal 
to Felix (Acts 24:25) "Righteousness, Temperance and Judgment 
to come," have enlisted my most earnest and serious study to 
acquire, end my constant efforts to advocate whatever the word of 
God inculcates as the appropriate "path of the just, which shineth 
brighter and brighter unto the perfect day," and for five and forty 
years that I have made the Bible my principal ctudy, I hav^ never 
failed to find new and still increasing light in its sacred pages, to 
me, past all contradiction proving its Divine origin 

William D. Co6k. 



ELDER SEBA NORTON. 

Jasper, Steuben Co., June 19th, 1876. 

Lewis H. Clark, Sodus N. Y. 

Seba Norton, third son of Abel Norton, spent his boyhcod, and 
probably was born in the Unadilla country, July 23d, 1760; was 
married there to Margaret Wetmore, Augubt 17th 1?78, and no 
doubt he was ordained there. I have heard much of his preaching 
in different neighborhoods in conjunction with two brothers Hol- 
combe, but cannot find any particular record except that he was 
faithful and diligent in his labors. His family of thirteen sons 
and daughters were born there . With five, (or at most six) of 
them he removed to Sodus in 1803 or 4. The only intimation I 
can find he ever lived in Marion is that his son Isaac was buried 
there in 1805. His deed in Sodus bears date 1811, but likely with 
many others he held il by contract for seme years, after deeding 
off fifty acres on the east, (afterwards a part of the Pulver farm) 
fifty acres on the south to Stephen Powell, and fifty to his son Daniel, 
he had about 75 acres called the "Old Homestead. 

With regard to his preaching I cannot give you a My thing very 
definite, only that his parish was very large. His regular appoint- 
ments were some of them nearly thirty miles from home. He was 
a kind of self appointed missionary, there being then no Boards to 
which he could report "number of miles traveled, sermons preach- 
ed, families visited, meetings held &c &c." The Church at Pal- 
myra village was not formed till near the time of his death; but 



lie often preached in the town, the members going either to 
Macedon or Marion, he was considered, to a great ' extent, the 
founder of the churches in Macedon, Marion, Williamson, Arcadia, 
Lyons and Sodus. He traveled over this ground several years, 
sometimes on foot, but mostly on horseback; his wife or daughter 
sometimes accompany ing him. For some years he had a regular 
appointment at the Rossiter School House, two miles north of 
Lyons village. 

The Wayne assqciation held their first annual meeting in Rose 
Valley, Sept., 1835. Elder H. B. Kenyon, (pastor of the church 
at Marion) wrote the circular letter to the churches, of which this 
is the concluding paragraph: 

"Our aged father in the Gospel, Elder Norton of Sodus, who 
was with us at our last anniversary, and deacon Adams of the 
ehurch in Marion, nave gone to their heavenly inheritance. These 
brethren have indeed been companions in labor and in the king- 
dom and patience of Jesus Christ, from the first settlement of the 
country to the day of their death. Deacon Adams resided on the 
farm on which he died, more than thirty-six years, and while Elder 
Norton was traversing the forests, facing the pelting storm, forcing 
his way through roads almost impassable, to carry the messages of 
Grace to the impenitent, and the consolations of God to his 
afflicted people; deacon Adams, according to his ability, was 
contributing of his earthly substance, to supply his temporal 
wants, of whom the former but a few years since, said that he had 
rendered more pecuniary assistance than all he had received from 
others. While we rejoice' that these kindred spirits, who were so 
long fellow laborers on earth, are now united in the blessed em- 
ployments of heaven, let us be careful to imitate their example, 
and be followers of them who now inhabit the promises, as they 
were of Christ, and look iorward with confidence to the great asso- 
ciation which will meet in the temple above, and never be 
dissolved." 

The church which afterward occupied the Brick Meeting house, 
met for several years at the M er chant School house at the junction 
of what used to be called the Old and New roads (to Lyons.) 
Elder Norton quarried the stone for the foundation of the 
brick house, and obtained a grant of three acres from the land 
office, for house, parsonage and burial ground. He afterwards 
took up the whole lot, that they might have a right to what timber 
they wanted for building, and when they had done, sold it to Mr. 
Butler, In building they fell short and he donated a large amount 
of seasoned lumber which he had laid up to finish his own house . 
James Walling was deacon at an early day. At my first knowledge 
of Sodus Milton Granger and Lawrence Vosburgh were deacons. 
David Paul was next chosen, and afterwards Thomas Hopkins 
and Michael Hollenbeck. Sometime before I knew anything of 
Sodus. Elder Norton retired from active service and Elder Martin 
Miner became the pastor. Elder Norton was again pastor a year 
or more, when the ehurch, at bis request, in 1834 called me fa 
Licentiate,) to preach with Elder Norton to administer the ordi- 
nances. I continued with them statedly two years; afterwards 
occasionally with C. C. Rogers, (a licentiate,) till they called Elder 
Joseph Gould as pastor. 

Elder Norton's admirers (and they once were numerous) never 
claimed that he had great pulpit gifts, but that he possessed in a 



VI 

high degree, diligence, probity, prudence, pen-severance and 
patience. Of his revolutionary history I cap give but little. His 
descendants think he must have been in the army before his 
marriage, because they have often heard him tell how he was 
sent as a great gawKy boy with an old man whom he was to call 
father, (and whom he always supposed was a general) disguised as 
farmers and with halters in their hands, into the enemies line, 
looking for stray horses ; and he told him never to send him again 
without his gun. But I think not. He was married in 1778 when 
a little over 18, and I have heard his wife say that when it was 
determined he should go, she, her mother and sisters caught first 
a black sheep, then a white one, sheared a part of the wool of 
each ; sat up all night, carded, spun and knit two pair of long 
stockings for him in time for him to start at noon the next day. 
I have heard him say he was present at Valley Forge, when many 
marched barefoot and marked their way by the blood of their feet 
on the frozen ground. He used to say he did not know that he 
ever killed a man while in the war, but once in an action when 
the smoke was very dense he stepped out to get a breath of air, 
and saw one of the enemy who had apparently done the same, 
draw up to fire, but Elder Norton fired first and the man fell. I 
believe he served as a private to the end of the war. In 1812 
the old Revolutionary soldiers of Sodus and vicinity, formed a 
company called the Silver Grays. At their meeting to elect 
officers, Elder Norton was chosen captain. A man from William- 
son, (Nichols by name, if I mistake not) a major in the Revolution, 
when chosen corporal, stepped briskly out saying "I consider it a 
high honor to serve as corporal under Captain Norton. 

When the British were about to land at Sodus Point, Captain 
Norton was there with some 50 or 60 men. He divided them into 
squads of about 10, placed them in different ambuscades, pointing 
out the way to retreat if assailed, and told them to pop away as 
fast as they could Before the British landed, however, a Colonel 
from l eneca Falls arrived with re-enforcements. Captain Norton 
told what he had done, and the colonel s?id he must recall the 
men and make what show they could in front. I have heard several 
who were there express the idea that the plan of the old captain 
would have been far better. The British advanced from the water 
with larfterns or torches at their head. Ainasa Johnson shot down 
several of their lights,, producing some delay and confusion. • 

I will add a few reminiscences current among his family and friends : 

He had a large orchard, one of the first in town. James Sherman 
was his hired man; going into it one morning with him James said, 
"I was at a paring bee last night and the apples came from that 
tree, and that, and that." "Did they?" "Yes, and I can swear 

to it, and so can and — - — . What are you going to do 

about it?" "Do about it!" "Are you not going to do prosecute?" 
"No. If they have stolen my apples, worse for them, thats all." 

At one time they were out of meat; there was a salt spring thirty 
or forty rods from the back of the house, and while they were sit- 
ting at breakfast one Sunday morning, a fat deer came and stood 
between the spring and the house. His wife urged him to shoot it. 
the Lord had sent it. &c. The Elder refused to shoot, saying "if 
the Lord has sent it he can send it to-morrow. " Accordingly at 
the same lime next day, the same deer or another like it. stood in 
i he same place, and he brought it down. 



VJ] 

Elder Norton accepted the name of Elder as fitly designating the 
office he held in the church, but rejected the title Rev., first as 
coming from Rome, and second as being applied to God himself in 
the Bible. There was one trait of Elder Norton's which some in 
this day might ccpy. His congregations were very orderly; he 
never threatened or scolded the young. Sometimes he would use 
language like this: "We thank the people for the attention with 
which they have listened, and especially the young people. We 
know we talk of things they don't understand, and when they 
behave well it is to their credit." These soft words were more 
powerful than harsh rebuke. 

For several y^ars he made it a point to call at every house in 
town at least once a year . He sometimes made thirty or forty and 
once fifty of these calls in a day. Such a stop he called a vis ; if he 
staid to eat he called it a visit ; if all night he called it a visitation. 
Once being blockaded by snow about a week, he called that a sore 
visitation. 



REV. CONWAY P. WING. 

Carlisle, May 19th 1876 
LEwrsH. Clark. 

Dear Sir : — Your letter of the 15th containing a request was 
received yesterday . In reply I would say : 

I commenced my labors in Sodus as a licentiate of Geneva Pres- 
bytery, in the month of May, in 1831 I spent one month there, it 
being the Spring vacation of senior year in Auburn Seminary. A 
very interesting revival was enjoyed during my labors there at that 
time, from which I broke away to complete my year at Auburn. 
Immediately after my graduation at the Seminary, I received and 
accepted a call to the church, commencing my labors there at 
once. The revival continued after my return ; I think about forty- 
six were added to the communion. It was the season of the great 
revival in all the churches of that region. I was not ordained 
and installed until Sept . 27th. 1832. I continued there as pastor 
until 1836, when I left, very much against the wishes of the people, 
to accept a call from the church of Ogden, near Rochester. My 
labors while at Sodus were very great, averaging not less than one 
sermon a day, besides other pastoral works. These sermons and 
labors were extended to nearly every town in the county, in inost 
of which towns I attended protracted meetings. When I com- 
menced labors in the congregation, it was in debt for its new house 
of worship, and fulling in meeting engagements, the contractors 
had closed up the galleries of the new house in order to compel 
payment. In a short time, however, this debt was paid. My 
salery was $400 per annum for the whole four years, but as most of 
the time I was unmarried and means of living very cheap, I lived 
very comfortably. 

I was born on the Muskinghain river 12 miles above Marietta, 



viir. 

Ohio, bat at four years of age came to Phelps, Ontario c junty, N. 
Y., where I resided with my father until my academic education 
commenced. My preparatory course of two years was had at 
Geneva Academy, which on my leaving it became Hobart College. 
I entered the sophomore class in Hamilton College Oct., 1825, and 
graduated there in 1828 . The autumn of 1828 I entered Auburn 
Seminary, from which I graduated in 1831. Af'er laboring four 
years at Ogden, and at Monroe, Michigan, I was compelled to seek 
a restoration of impaired health by a residence at St. Croix, in the 
West Indies and at Huntsville, Alabama. I then so tar recovered 
that I ventured to accept a call to the congregation in this place, 
where I have been pastor for twenty eight years. Last autumn, 
Oct . 25th, 1875, I resigned my charge here in consequence again of 
somewhat broken health. 

I cannot say much about the town as compared with what it now 
is, as I am too little acquainted with its present condition. The 
principal men in the church at that time were Dr. Lsvi Gaylord, 
itephen Fairbanks, Byram Green, Deacon Roberts, Mr. Smith, 
Mr. Coleman, Mr. Kellogg, Adam Tinklepaugh, Richard and John 
Bell. Garret Gurn^e and Mr . Kingsley. Others have escaped my 
reccollection at present . There was a good degree of life among 
the members. I remember the prayer meetings as especially ani- 
mated. Indeed I have always looked upon it as a favorable 
circumstance that I began my ministerial life under _such spiritual 
influences. 

Should you publish an account I should be glad to receive a 
copy . We are likely to gather a vast amount of valuable histor- 
ical material this Centennial year. Yours. very truly, 

Conway C. Wing. 



MRS. A. G. PERRINE. 

Palmyra, June 27th, 1876. 
Mr. Lewis H. Clark. 

Dear Sir: — My father, Rev. Jesse Townsend, was born in 
Andover, Ct. , in 1765, graduated from Yale College, JNew 
Haven, about the year 1789, and united with the churdi while 
there. His first settlement was in Shelburn, Mass. From there he 
went to New Durham in this state, where he remained thirteen 
years, a period of many labors and of great success. He was next 
settled in Madison, also in this State, and for a time had charge of 
an Academy in Utica ; then became pastor of a church in Palmyra, 
and remained here for three years. From here in the year 1813 
he went to III., as a missionary, where he remained until 1824 or 
5, when he accepted a call to the church in Sodus, and remained 
there I think about five years. Coming here from there, he never 
after accepted any call, but preached when able in vacant churches 
in this vicinity. The feebleness of his health alone obliged him at 
last to cease from his labors. He died in Palmyra. N. Y., July 14th, 
1838. Early in the morning of the day when his happy spirit took 



IX 

its flight, in language almost prophetic, he repeatedly exclaimed, 
"The day breaketh, let me depart, the day breaketh let me 
depart. " The last words he was heard to utter was ' 'Jesus has 
washed my sins away. " Thus he lived and thus he died. 

" The Gospel was his joy and song, 

'en to his latest "breath; 
The truth he had proclaimed so long. 
Was his support in death." 

In haste your friend. Mrs. A. Gr. Perrine. 



REV. W. COLLINS. 

Quincy, June 25th 1876 
Mr. Clark. 

Dear Sir : — My husband was born in Smyrna, Ohenango Co. , N. 
Y., in 1819. He graduated at Hamilton College in the class of 
'39, then entered the Theological Seminary at Auburn, finished 
his studies in 1842. He preached at Summer Hill, Preble and 
Onondaga Valley before going to Sodus. At Onondaga Valley he 
was ordained and installed in 1847. After leaving Sodus, he 
preached in East Palmyra, Dundee, Eddy town, Maine and Pen- 
field ; then remc ving to Michigan, he supplied the pulpit in Quincy. 
Tekomha ard Parma. In the latter place he died after a short 
but severe illness, in the midst of his labors. 

Yours Truly, Mrs. S. E. Collins. 



REV. JAMES IRELAND . 

Johnstown, N. Y., June 16th, 1876. 
Mr. L. H. Clark. 

Dear Sir : — In answer to you I give the following . 

Rev. James Ireland was born at St. Andrews, Scotl; nd, 1823, 
educated at St. Andrews, Graduated Madras College, St. Andrews. 
He pursued his Theological studies at Edinburg and Glasgow, and 
received the following certificate . 

Glasgow College, April 26th, 1847.— I certify that Mr. James 
Ireland having produced the necessary certificates, was enrolled a 
Student of Divinity in Session 1846 and 1847 on the twenty-third 
day of November, that he attended reqularly ; that he delivered a 
Homily, Lecture, Greek and Hebrew exercise with much approba- 
tion, and that his conduct, so far as known to me. has been suited 
to his views and character in reference to the Holy Ministry. 

[Signed] Alex. Hill, S. S. T . P 

In May 1846, he was appointed by the Presbytery of Paisley to act 
as missionary at Barrhead, and was ordained theie Feb. 26th, 1850, 
and became pastor of St James Church, Forfar, June, 1852, and 
remained there until Feb , 1857. He left Scotland July, 1857, for 
Canada, and located at Three Rivers, where he taught for one 



year ; coining to the U. S. in 1859 and locating at Broadalbin, Fulton 
Co. , JN". Y. , where he remained until he came to Sodus Wayne 
county, N. Y. Yours, John Ireland. * 



R. HARRINGTON. 

Lyons, N. ¥., July 25th, 1876. 
Lewis H Clark. 

Dear Sir . — My recollections of Sodus began mostly with my 
services there as pastor of the M. E. Church of the then Sodus 
Circuit, in the Fall of 1839. Rev. Sias Bolles was my assistaut 
The Circuit then included many church classes; Lock Berlin, 
South Sodus, iUton, Sentell's, Sodus Village, Granger's Settlement, 
Furnaceville, Morse Hill, Hogaboorns and other places, making 
twelve appointments each Sabbath, and an average of four addi- 
tional for each week. The church membership was sparsely located. 
The only parsonage was a small house at South Sodus, bought the 
year previous, but the pay for it to be collected from the whole 
membership of the Circuit . This laborious business devolved on 
the preacher in charge, as did all the financial work. During the 
Fall of this year was built the Lock Berlin church. The dedica- 
tion services were by Rev. Seth Mattison From the dedication in 
December, 1839, meetings were continued for about four weeks, 
and were crowned with extraordinary success. Lock Berlin noted 
for its wickedness, was then revolutionized. The liquor dealers, 
drinkers, gamblers and scoffers were converted. Some who, during 
the first night of the meetings, had at the tavern profanely sworn, 
danced, caroused and in mocking, — administered what they 
called a "sacrament," with whiskey, were arrested in their madness 
and turned to God. That tavern ceased, and strong drink has had 
no public home since at Lock Berlin. 

Rev. Sias Bolles was especially successful under God, in revival 
work on the Sodus charge. He was sweet spirited, full of faith 
and love. His smiles, tears and pleadings for Christ made him 
very dear to the people. His health failed and the circuit was left 
with but one preacher, who, with small help from Rev. Asel 
Aldrich, kept all the appointments lor the remaining half of the 
year, preaching four times each Sabbath and nearlv every day or 
evening each week. The pay was then about four hundred dollars 
the year, consisting in part of farmers produce received at the par- 
sonage, in time of the so called donations. This year was first 
organized a class or society at Sodus Village. Milton Barclay was 
appointed the leader, and an old store room was occupied for the 
meeting. This class prospered well, and though the leader was 
removed by sudden death, and Satan for a ti .e sifted the society, 
grace prev iled, and the foundation for the Stone Church and its 
central society were then laid, and became a most prosperous 
church. The next year Rey. Octavius Mason, a minister in gifts. 
^raee and usefulness, quite above his colleague, was made the 
junior preacher, yet in spirit and labor these preachers were like 
David and Jonathan. Mr. Mason, thought he received this subor- 
dinate appointment, because of bis outspoken zeal for human 

lie was quite 



XL 

above his assailants in talents, piety and usefulness, and was a man 
of blessed memory in the church. This year an extensive revival 
occurred, mostly in connection with the labors of Rev. 0. Mason, 
at the Sentell school house . Nearly every family in the school: 
district instituted family prayer daily. Some notable examples of 
saving grace are worthy of record. The teacher of the school and 
most of his scholars were happily converted to God. Among the 
first was a Miss Sarah Degan ; the first baptised and the first ripened 
fruit for the glorified church above, which she joyfully entered 
after only a few months happy probation. The Morse Hill class, 
also was favored with some conversions. The Sodus Village Stone 
church was begun and enclosed. The Sabbath schools and classes 
dotted the whole circuit. The missionary and other contributions 
for benevolence were greatly increased, as were also the member- 
ship and spirituality and power for good of the church. Sodus 
Circuit was the home of many choice spirits ; noble men and 
women of God. Among these prominently of note were John, 
Gilbert and Daniel Jemison at Lock Berlin ; Daniel Spier and Mr. 
Mickell, Pilgrimport ; Gabriel Rogers and Mathew Pullen, at South 
Sodus; Hiram Allen and Mr. Alden at Lime Kilns; Charles Field 
and E. W Sentell at Preston's Mills; Milton Barclay and John C. 
Miller at Sodus Village; Mr. Robinson, William Bennett and 
Henry Cronise at Fairville. From this favored circuit God was 
pleased to call some young men into the work of the itinerant 
ministry. Among these were John Robinson and his nephew Rod- 
ney H. Robinson, and Richard Blanchard These last were ad- 
vanced to the Presiding Eldership and to the General Conference. 
Both sustained themselves by their own exertions while preparing 
for the ministry. R. Blanchard was for a long while man oi all 
work about the Seminary at Lima, N. Y. , while acquiring his edu- 
cation. His Labors and studies never cooled his fiery zeal, for his 
closet pi ayers were regularly heard through the Seminary building, 
more sonorous than their Town Bell. R. H . Robinson remains 
among the eminent and successful ministers of the church. More 
recently, Charles Case wat honored with like work in the Gospel 
ministry, who early fell covered with the Master's glory. Robert 
Hogaboom is another star in this company on whom God and the 
people have placed tn^ seal of honor. William Selby also was 
called to the great work from the same circuit. Devout and hon- 
orable women also went out from it to grace and bless the families 
of the ministry and church. In 1839 one meeting house and one 
parsonage belonged to the Sodus circuit. Now eight houses and 
four parsonages are within its old limits. Persons and families are 
yet living whose sensibilities preclude further incidents, though 
they might add to the interest of these sketches. 

Yours Truly, R. Harrington. 



This review of the Churches of Sodus, shows very clearly the 
earnest religious faith cherished by many of the early settlers who 
penetrated the dense wilderness, conquered its difficulties, and 
carved out for us this beautiful heritage. 

Differing in -denomination, they were nevertheless one in Christ, 



Xll. 

and they strove to plant here Christian institutions to bless their 
children for many generations. So common are these blessings of 
Christian civilization, that we are in danger of forgetting their 
value — like the air we breathe, or the water that bubbles from the 
mountain spring. These institutions have cost time and money 
and anxious labor; but even, in a low material view, it is no doubt 
true that the investment has paid a higher, rate per cent than 
any other . 

Imagine Sodus settled for seventy-five years, with never a prayer 
or a sermon, never a Bible within its borders; children born, 
trained and married with never a thought of God or Christ ; the 
dead buried with no church service and no words of immortality, 
and decide if possible what condition the town would have been in 
at the end of the experiment. 

If the peace, order and virtue of Christianized communities do 
not depend upon their religious training, let those who doubt, 
show us other communities that without the Christian religion 
have attained to equal virtue, and made equal advancement in all 
that renders life happy and desirable. 



Preface, 



*N the following work, involving so many names and 
dates, it is not probable that every statement will be 
found absolutely accurate. The difficulty of securing pre- 
cision and reliability in narrating Pioneer History, extending 
back three-quarters of a century, can only 03 appreciated by 
those who have undertaken such a task; yet so much labor 
has been bestowed upon this work, the writer ventures to 
hope it will prove acceptable to the few remaining founders 
of churches, and their children, as well as to the community 
at large, who are enjoying the Christian institutions they 
established. 

The author acknowledges with pleasure the courtesy of 
church officers in furnishing for examination the records of 
their respective societies, and the readiness' of all to furnish 
information nought. There are so many citizens to whom 
credit is due, it will be impossible to mention their names. 

Among those abroad who have furnished records, and in 
some cases formal papers, thanks are due to Dr. Cook, of 
Vineland, Kev. Joseph Chapman, of Newark, Rev Ezra 
Chatfield, of Steuben Co., Mrs. Perrine, of Palmyra, Mrs. 
Collins, ot Quincy, Michigan, John Ireland Esq., of Johns- 
town, Wm, Ailing, of Rochester, John Bell, of Palmyra, 
Rev. C. P. Wing, of Carlisle, Penn., Noah Gibson, of Harts- 
ville, Mass , Columbus Croul, of Lyons, and others. 

in giving personal notices of early church officers and 
inembers, it was intended mainly to limit them to those in 
town before 1820 — though not entirely so. The difficulty of 
obtaining the necessary information has compelled the 
omission of some that would no doubt have been of much 
interest, and caused imperfect sketches of others. 

Hoping this pamphlet relating to one single department of 
Sodus History, may prove interesting enough to justify a 
complete work, it is respectfully submitted. 

L. H. C. 



CHAPTER I. 

INTB.ODUOTION. 

:- §o§— : 

The history of the past has many lessons for the present. 
To retrace the records of other days, to recall the deeds ot 
those who preceded us always affords instruction and 
delight. In earliest childhood we gather around the chair of 
the aged grandsire, and with rapt attention listen to his 
stories of the olden times. When books open their wealth 
of wisdom for our increasing years, we turn with ever new 
and fresh interest to History, to Biography — those rich 
treasures that persevering students have gathered as they 
traveled back along the pathway of the buried centuries. 
And this is true not only of History in general, bat also of 
family and local History. Indeed in some respects the 
nearer we come to ourselves personally, the greater is our 
interest in the study. Most families cherish carefully their 
own private records, brief though they may be, and entrust 
them to the most sacred of all human archives — the family 
Bible — recording the birth of their children in the same 
volume where covenant blessings 'are promised to them for a 
thousand generations, and writing the death of their loved 
ones, in close connection with the words of Him who said 
"I am the resurrection and the life." Local History has a 
charm that holds willing listeners at the feet of age. To 
trace the early settlement of our own neighborhood, to wan- 
der over the spot where the first cabin stood, and beside the 
first grave opened in the wilderness to receive some brave 
pioneer or his sweet child; all these things come very near to 
us, and touch the best feelings of our hearts. The heap of 
stones, marking the spot where once the wide old fire-place 
blazed its welcome — the tingle apple tree, still casting its 
vernal flowers and its autumnal fruit upon the ground, once 
occupied by the primeval college ; — the rose bush still 
unfolding its annual lessons of love, though the dear oiti^ 
hands that planted it have long since been folded for the rest 
of Ihe grave; — these speak in eloquent language of the past. 



In such a review, Church History is naturally included, 
and will amply repay patient study and careful investiga- 
tion. Western New York was very largely settled by 
emigrants from the New England states — particularly from 
Massachusetts and Connecticut. Religious institutions had 
been planted by their fathers soon after landing on the shores 
of the new world, and when the children took up the line of 
march from the rugged hills of the Kast, to the fertile lands 
of the Genesee Country, they carried with them the Bible. 
The Christian minister followed; the voice of praise rose to 
God from Pioneer homes ; prayer and conference meetings 
were established, and the organization of churches was not 
long delayed. At some points they were almost coeval with 
the opening of settlements. 

The fires now burning on a thousand Christian altars were 
kindled by pious hands in the dense forest, and were guarded 
with zealous care through all the years of toil and privation. 
Churches that now worship in houses if comfort, conven- 
ience and elegance, first met in the home of a settler, with 
its single room, or in the log school house; and when more 
space was required on special occasions, in the barns, or in 
the groves, ' 'God's first temples." And it is worth noticing 
here how generally a church organization lives where so 
many other organizations die. It is very rarely the case that 
a church actually dies out, disbands and disappears. It is a 
strong testimony to the inherent divine power of Christian 
faith, that a church seems almost endowed with immortal 
life, even in its outward, visible organization. Families die, 
but churches live. Disputes and divisions arise, but the 
church is very likely to survive them all To change the 
words of the poet, ''Men may co jae and men may go, but the 
church lives on forever." Of course in regard to local, sin- 
gle churches this is not universally true. The narrative will 
show that it is not true of this town. There are 
exceptions, yet it is positively astonishing how much a 
church will endure and still live; how much individual 
foolishness and sin can load it down before the community 
and yet not destroy it; how much obstinacy may embarrass 
its action arid yet not extinguish it; how much feebleness 
and incapacity may fetter its growth, and resist its develop- 
ment, and yet not smother it. Beneath* all these outer 
indications of trouble, beneath all these storms that may 
sweep ever the surface, there is a strong, under current of 
life; so deep, so pure, so divine that it flows resistlessly on, 
hidden for years, perhaps, but often welling to the surface 
in glad revival seasons, and always existing as a source of life 



and perpetuity. Just as in Baffins Bay, ice bergs jostle and 
collide on the surface, floating southward, resisting the navi- 
gator, while far below a branch of the Gulf stream flows 
steadily northward, bearing tropical heat to the unknown 
Polar Ocean,, beyond the region of Arctic snows. 

No history of Western New York that omits its churches 
can be complete. They are an essential element of its material 
progress, and the crowning glory of its wealth, science and 
civilization. 

The town of Sodus was erected by an order of the Circuit 
Court at Canandaigua in 1789, and comprised the present 
towns of Sodus, Lyons, Arcadia, Williamson, Ontario, 
Marion and Walworth. The present Presbyterian Church 
of Lyons, was organized January 2nd, 1800, as the ''first 
Presbyterian Church of Sodus in the village of Lyons." It 
retained this name for several years, and until changed by 
au act of the legislature, introduced I think, by Hon. Byram 
Green. In the territory thus erected into a district or town 
no town meeting was held until April 2nd, 1799, — a delay 
of ten years. The first town meeting assembled at the 
dwelling house of Evert Van Wickie. near the present 
County House in Lyons, and elected town officers. For 
eleven years the annual meetings were held either at Lyons 
or at Marion. The first town meeting within the present 
limits of Sodus was in 1811, held at the house of Daniel 
Arms, the first house west of Wallington, now owned by' C. 
D. Lent Williamson including Marion, Ontario, and Wal- 
worth having been taken off in 1802, and .uyons, including 
Arcadia, in 1811, the town of Sodus was at that early date 
reduced to nearly its present limits. A narrow strip on the 
west side attached to the town of Williamson at a later date, 
being the only change since 1811. In the territory of the 
present town in 1799, there are said to have been about 25 
families Several of them were at the Point. Elijah Brown 
on the "Lake Lot" of the Swales farm, Amos Richards, on 
the farm of William Vosburg, where the old orchard and 
heap of stones now identify the spot. The others were on 
the roads leading from the Point; one the "Old Geneva 
Boad" to Lyons, the other the •■' Old Sodas ifoacT to Pal- 
myra. This last was abandoned sixty years ago or more, 
through most of its route, though it is recognized in the 
surveys ot certain farms in the north and west parts of 
the town. The site of this village at that time was an 
unbroken forest. At how early a date religious meetings 
were held within the present limits of the town, it is difficult 
to decide, but it is very certain they occurred almost ao early 



8. • 

as the settlement; perhaps even before the first town meet- 
ing in 1799. Elder Sela Norton was an early Baptist 
minister. He came in the year 1803 or 4, and settled where 
Reuben Boyd now lives. Elder Gerums, a Methodist minis-' 
ter, was here very early, living north of Wallington. Elder 
Goodenough was also an early Methodist minister. Metho- 
dist meetings were held at the house ot John Reed, just 
south of the present place of Clement Harvey. Elder Norton 
preached at this village as early at least as there was a school 
house for him to preach in. The pioneer school house in 
this village, and the place of xsany religious meetings, stood 
a little in front of the present Hotel barn of Mr Whitnev. 

The statement above, that there were twenty-five families 
in Sodus in 1799, is made on the authority of the New York 
Gazetteer — but from the evidence I have gathered, this must 
be understood to refer to the origiral town, consisting of the 
sevtn towns before mentioned. It is not probable there 
were more than six or eight families within the present limits 
of Sodus . 

Further general Pioneer History; which might properly 
appear in this introduction, will be found scattered through 
the chapters relating to various churches — particularly in 
the account of the Presbyterian Churches, as that was pre- 
pared first, and delivered as an address with many general 
tacts and statements applicable to ail' churches. 



CHAPTER II. 

Presbyterian Churches. 

As early as 1795 ministers of the Congregational and 
Presbyterian Churches began to penetrate Western 
New York. Rev. Zadoc Hunn located that year at Bristol, 
Ontario Co. ; of which Wayne county was then a part. Eev. 
John Rolph, at South Bristol in the same county, was 
installed by a council in 1797, according to the Congrega- 
tional form — the first of Western New York. Rev. Timothy 
Field was installed at Canandaigua in 1800; and about the 
same time in 1800 or 1801 the Rev. Eleazer Fairbanks came 
to Palmyra and preached extensively through this region. 
He settled very early on the well known Fairbanks Point, 
east of Pultneyville. In 1800, Rev. Jedediah Chapman was 
sent by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, 
to labor on the "North Western Frontier" as the Genesee 
country was then called. He settled at Geneva, and for 
several years spent six months of each year in going out 
among the scattered settlers of this section, preaching, organ- 
izing churches and doing other pastoral work. In 1799 
Rev. Seth Williston, sent out by the Missionary society of 
Connecticut, spent four months in Ontario county, extending 
his labors no doubt, to this section, for in his report he 
records the occurrence of a great revival, commencing at 
Palmyra. The same missionary society also sent out in 
1799 Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, and he reported to the socie- 
ty sometime afterward, that he had labored mostly in the 
County of Ontario. How many of these, and other early 
ministers preached within the present limits of Sodus from 
1799 to 1812, when and whore they preached, it is now dif- 
ficult to ascertain. From the general facts above given it is 
evident they must have been here frequently. Missionaries 
located at Geneva, and other places in the same county, 
active in general pastoral work, with revivals existing at 



10 

Palmyra and other places could not have wholly neglected 
Sodus, which even then was an old and well known name, if 
nothing more. They must have visited a place of go great 
commercial importance, as Sodus Bay then seemed to be. ' 
This view is sustained by the recollection of the older res- 
idents still living among us; though names, dates and places 
are very uncertain before 18 S 2. 

At the time of the organization of the Presbyterian 
Church in 1812, this village consisted of about the following 
buildings. The Log House of John Holcomb on the site of 
George Tillot son's residence, a log tavern on the corner 
where Mr. Kelly's stone building is, the frame school house 
in front of Mr. Whitney's hotel barn, a log house on th esite 
of the " Beehive/' occupied by Mr. Shelley, and four or five 
log houses west of the corner at Mr. Green's. •Between the 
1wo ends of the village, in the language of Longfellow, 
" Still stood the forest primeval." Jesse Green recollects 
going up to the site of "Whitney's hotel to school through 
the woods, some time later than 1812. 

The formation of the church was due to the recent settle- 
ment of the three brothers, Byram, Joseph and Samuel 
Green. In the spring of 1811 they came here and built four 
log bouses on the north side of the road — sleeping in a hol- 
low log while building them. The first was in the present 
garden of Mrs. Samuel Green, the second just at the ive%t 
end of it. the third a little further west, and the fourth just 
beyond Edwin Green's barn where some stones beside the 
road still mark the spot. They returned and brought their 
families the same summer. Lemuel Higgins, too, came the 
same or the next year, and built another log house near the 
present corn house of Jesse Green . Of the fovr log houses 
on the north side of the road, Phinehas Hayward lived in 
the first at the east, Capt. Joseph Green, father of the three 
brothers, in the second, Byram Green in the third, and Dr. 
Joseph Green in the fourth. Later, but probably not in 
1812, Samuel Green, who married a daughter of Mr. 
Hovey, but died himself within a year, had another log 
house on the south, side of the road, at the west end of the 
Locust Grove. There you have the picture of the Pioneer 
village — a tavern and school house, eight — perhaps nine, log 
houses. 

So many of these families were from Williams town., Mass., 
that ancient home of education and piety, it ie not strange 
their thoughts were early turned to planting similar institu- 
tions here. Byram Green was educated at Williams college, 
and was one of that little company of young men who met 



beside the haystack in the meadow to pray fur the conversion 
ot the world — a spot that has since become famous and his- 
toric as the birth place of American Missions. Judge Green 
in his old age visited Williamstown, identified the site of 
the Haystack; a mar¥le monument was erected and a 
mission park established. 

The following is the record of the -church organization 
taken trom the earliest book. 

Sodus, Oct. 23d, 1812 — On this day the Congregational 
and Presbyterian professors of this town were organized into 
a church by the Rev Messrs. Tullar and Ayers. The fol- 
lowing are the names of those who composed the church, 
viz. Matthew Clark, Charity Higgins. Lemuel Higgins, 
Mehitable Hayward, Phinehas Hayward, Elizabeth Green, 
Byram Green, Samanthy Clark, Matthew Clark, jr., Mehita- 
ble Green, Israel Mason, Nabby Green, 

After the organization of the church Mr. Flavel Kingsley, 
Mrs. Elizabeth Clark and Miss Harriet Higgins offered 
themselves for admission into the church, were examined 
and admitted. The church then voted to call themselves 
the First Presbyterian Church of Sodus. They also voted 
to offer themselves to the Geneva Presbytery for admission. 
The church then proceeded to elect their officers. Mr. 
Phinehas Hayward and Mr. Matthew Clark were chosen 
Deacons and consecrated to that office. Mr. Byram Gresn 
was elected Clerk. 

Nov. -1st, 1812— The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was 
administered by Eev. Mr. Tullar. March 22d, 1813, the 
church met and elected Byram Green delegate to represent 
the church in the Presbytery; and also called a society meet- 
ing for the purpose of choosing trustees and making other 
arrangements for the formation of a Presbyterian society. 
The church received, March 23d, a book entitled a "Confess- 
ion of Faith/' as a present from the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church in America, by the hand of the Rev. 
Mr. Chapman, of Geneva. Dec. 20th, 1814— John Boyce, 
Elizabeth Achsah Granger' Dorcas Harmsley and Polly 
Gurnee — the three former by letters, and the latter by 
examination were received into the church by the Rev. Mr. 
Pomeroy. Aug. 25th, 1815 — Timothy Axtell and Mary his 
wife, John Gault and his wife and Alexander Lyal were 
received into the church by the Rev. Mr. Whipple. 

March 22d, 1817— Achsah, Lonisa and Elijah, the chil- 
dren of !Flavel Kingsley, wore baptized by the Rev, Mr, 



12 

Collins; also Juliette, the daughter oi Dorcas Harmsley, 
and Harriet Mary, the daughter of Bjram Green. 

August 11th, 1819 — The church being regularly met, the 
Rev. Mr. Collins being present, by the request of the church 
he presided as moderator. Meeting opened by prayer by the 
moderator. 

1st. The church then resolved to adopt the Presbyterian 
mode of government. 

2d. Resolved to appoint seven Ruling Elders, and the 
following brethren were elected into that office, viz: Pur- 
chase Roberts, Phinehas Hayward, Joseph Gurtiss, Linus 
Stevens, Kitcbell Bell, Lemuel Higgins and Timothy Axtell. 

Purchase Roberts was also chosen Deacon, and it was re- 
solved that the consecration of the Deacons and Elders take 
place the 22d instant. " 

The Trustees chosen were Nathaniel Merrill, Daniel Ar jis, 
Lemuel Higgins, Timothy Axtell, John Holeomb and Joseph 
Green, and their names appear in the certificate of incor- 
poration recorded at Canandaigua. 

This extract from the records comprises all the written 
history of the church for seven years, and it will be seen 
that of the fifteen who joined on the day of organization. 
Oct. 23d, 1812, nine were from Byram Green's family and 
connections — Byram Green and Elizabeth, his wife; Lemuel 
Higgins and Charity, his wife, the father and mother of Mrs. 
Byram Green; Phinehas Hayward and his wife Mehitable, 
who was a sister of Byram Green; Nabby Green, wife of 
Dr. Joseph Green, Mehitable Green, his daughter, and 
Harriet Higgins, sister of Mrs. Byram Green. None of the 
others were from this village. Flavel Kingsley was from 
the south part of the town, living beyond Salmon Creek at 
that time. Matthew Clark and Samantha, his wife; Mat- 
thew Clark, jr., and Elizabeth, his wife, were from the east 
part of the town, living just south of the Brick Church. 
Matthew Clark was here as early as 1804. After they had 
been away from town a few years , and returned with letters 
from the church of Mendon, in 1822, they lived on the 
Johnson farm, southeast of the Brick Church. Israel 
Mason, the remaining name among the founders, was the 
son-in-law of Matthew Clark. He lived for a few years 
where Durfee Wilcox now resides, and chopped the timber 
for clearing upon twentv acres or more of that farm. 
Whether the Matthew . Clark and wife spoken of as returr- 
ing from Mendon were the young people or the old, or both, 
or whether they finally removed to the same place, I have 
not ascertained with certainty. But they left the town at 



an early day, Matthew Clark, jr., and wife taking letters to 
the church in Lodi, Erie County. Israel Mason also re- 
moved from town in a few years. Ot these first members^ 
Mrs. Elizabeth Green, widow of Judge By ram Green, still 
survives, the sole representative of that little meeting which 
founded the church sixty-four years ago. She remembers 
riding to meeting in the half of a hollow log, drawn by a 
yoke of oxen — such a conveyance rolling around in an uncer- 
tain way, slowly making the trip to the school-house, Tiiis 
was a conveyance very different from the fast horses and 
skeleton rigs now driving through our streets. What re- 
mains to be said of this church may perhaps De more clearly 
presented under certain heads: 

1st. Organization and Officers. — The church was substan- 
tially Congregational at the formation, and remained so for 
seven years; yet the records show* that they voted to call 
themselves the First Presbyterian Church of Sodics, and 
voted to ask admission to the Geneva Presbytery, and the 
legal certificate filed at Canandaigua styles the body " The 
First Union Presbyterian Society of Sodus." It is supposed 
the word Union was used in consequence of Congregational - 
ists and Presbyterians being united in the same organization. 

The church chose a Clerk and two Deacons. The inten- 
tion, as clearly shown by the records, was to organize a Pres- 
byterian church, but conduct it on congregational principles 
without a board of elder?'. As the " Plan of Union/' so- 
called, prevading in this State from 1801 allowed such 
churches to unite with Presbyteries and have a delegate, 
they availed themselves of this privilege. In 1819 they 
completed a full Presbyterian organization by electing a ses - 
sion of seven Ruling Elders. Vacancies occurring by doath 
or removal were rilled by new elections, but the office, of 
course, was life-long - 

In 1837 all the elders resigned, and a new election took 
place. In 1864 it becoming necessary to elect several new 
elders at once, it was determined to introduce the plan of 
limited service. Accordingly John W. Bell, E K. Hitch- 
cock and L. H. Clark were elected, and their term of service 
limited to four years. In 1868 all of the elders for life being 
dead or removed except Bro. Garret Gurnee, he proposed to 
resign, to allow the complete arrangement of the session in 
that torm. The board was then made to consist of six 
elders, to serve six years, two to go out at the end of each 
two years. The deacons were also designated to hold office 
two years, and the time of election is at the Preparatory 
Lecture next preceding the Communion on the- first Sabbath 



14 

in April of tii-e even years. This was before a iirnin d-sei vice- 
eldership was authorised by the General Assembly ; but in 
1875 that body, with the concurrence of three-fourths ot the 
Presbyteries, ratified what this church had done seven years 
before. This plan of a periodically elective eldership has 
brought the organization very closely to actual Congregation- 
alism in its local work, but with the advantage of the Pres- 
byterian system of appeals; 

2d, Place of Bleeting, House of Worship.— 'The church 
was probably organized in the school-house^ and held its 
meetings there mostly for several years. . But meetings were 
held very often in private houses and also in a barn of Bus- 
gel A. Bouth that stood nearly opposite the present home of 
David Poucker. The church also held many meetings in 
distant neighborhoods, in private houses, in barns and in 
the school-houses, particularly the one near the present 
Brick Church. At the barn now owned by Morris De Kay, 
opposite the Brick Church, the early ministers preached. 
Persons were received into the Presbyterian Church at that 
barn; among them the wife of Asahel Carpenter. Children 
were baptized there; among them the children of Levi Allen, 
July l4th, 1822, Nancy, Levi Sanford, Benjamin and 
Charles; and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was admin- 
istered there. In the stone school house, northwest part of 
the town, many meetings were held. That neighborhood 
was so much of a place for meetings that the school-house 
was built large with the object of accommodating religious 
societies, and though it was not formally dedicated to church 
services, yet a very devoted pious man, the father of Josiah 
Rice, did the work, saying at the time that perhaps the 
house might stand till the glory of the Lord should cover 
the earth as the waters cover the sea; and so, perhaps, it 
may, for a stone* seliool-house dies hard.. The great revival 
of 1828, and also of 1831, prevailed extensively -in that 
neighborhood. Sethr Coleman, during these and earlier 
years, was very active in social meetings, and from this vil- 
lage and west of it,. Judge Green, Adam Tinklepaugh, Jacob 
Bacon and probably others went on foot, -on dark nights, 
three, four or five miles to hold prayer and conference meet- 
ings in that section. But the time came to build meeting 
houses. For twenty-five years. the . solemn services of the 
various churches, organized and unorganized, had fallen upon 
the hearts of the people in places and forais adapted to 
primeval life. But the wanderings in the wilderness were 
done; the labors of the earliest settlement were ended; the 
ark of Christian faith needed a local habitation, and there 



15 

arose in the hearts of the people, as in that of David of old, 
a desire to build a temple unto the Lord, a habitation for 
th,e Most High. The brick house at the Centre was com- 
menced in 1825, and enclosed enough for meetings next year, 
but not finished for three or four years. The Presbyterian 
house was raised June 28th, 1827 ; the Episcopal house in 
the fall of the previous year, 1826, and these two seem to 
have been in progress at about the same time. For the 
Episcopal Church George Palmer and Thomas Wickham 
drew the first load of stone from the Dea. granger farm, 
now owned by Frederick Blanchard. For the Presbyterian 
Church Levi G-urnee and J udge Green, putting their ox- 
teams together, drew the timber from the farm of Flavel 
Kingsley. Stephen Ax tell, son of Elder Timothy Axtell, 
built the Presbyterian house. The time and circumstances 
of the dedication I have not obtained. It was a hard strug- 
gle to build, and the church remained in debt. As late as 
1831, after Mr. Wing preached here^the galleries were closed 
by the contractors; but an energetic movement was made, 
the debt paid, and the galleries opened^ The present house 
was erected by Rufus A. Moses, contractor, and dedicated in 
June, 1863. Dr. Horace Eaton preached the sermon, and 
Rev. Mr. Shepherd of Huron offered the dedicatory prayer t 
The parsonage was built in 1874 and 5. 

The old meeting house was sold to the contractor for the 
new, and finally became the present planing mill at the east 
end of the village. 

3d. Ministers. — From and after the organization of the 
church in 1812 to the present time, the following ministers 
appear to have labored here: The two ministers, Rev. 
David Tullar and Rev. Oliver Ayers, organizod the church. 
Nov.- 1st, Rev. Mr. Tullar administered the Communion. 
The Rev. Mr. Chapman of Geneva, missionary of the Gen- 
eral Assembly, brought the church the Book of Discipline 
Mar. 22d, i813. The Rev. Francis Pomeroy of Lyons, 
Dec. 20th, 1814, preached and received several members 
into the church; Aug. 25th, 1815, Rev. Mr. Whipple also 
received members into the church/ March 22d, 1817, Rev, 
Mr. Collins preached and baptized several children; Mr. 
Collins also tutted as moderator Aug. 11th, 1819, at the first 
election of elders. April 2d, 1820, Rev. William Clark 
preached, and many times afterward, enough to render it 
probable that he was employed for a time as stated supply, 
Nov. 11th, 1821, the Rev. Noah Smith preached, perhaps 
also as stated supply for a few months. March 14, 1822, 
Rev. Royal Phelps preached, and ({iiite often for a year or 



16 

two afterward. Rev. Mr Porter, February 1823. Rev. Mr. 
Bailey administered the Sacrament Jan. 24th, 1824. In 
1825 the Rev. Garret Hollenbeck seems to have been em- 
ployed as stated supply. The name of Rev. B. B. Stoctor: 
appears April 15th, 1825. Rev. Jesse Townsend preached 
Aug. 14th, 1 825, and after the 1st of January, 1826, was 
regularly employed as stated supply. He remained five years . 
closing his laborshere Jan. 2d, 1831. Rev. Conway P. Wing, 
then a student in the Auburn Seminary, spent the month of 
May, 1831 — passing in that manner the spring vacation of 
his senior year. After he had graduated later in the summer, 
he accepted a call to Sodus, and entered immediately upon 
his work among this people. He was ordained, and installed 
♦Sept. 27th, 1832. The pastoral relation was dissolved in 
the spring of 1835. Rev. Daniel Waldo preached here 
during the years 1835 and 6. He was then very old, but 
afterwards became quite celebrated as a centenarian. He 
was elected chaplain of Congress, and lived to pass his 
hundredth birthday by several months. Early in 1837, 
Rev. Joseph Merrill commenced his labors here, continuing 
for two years, until some time in 1839. After a vacancy of 
a few months, Rev. Charles Ken more was engaged to supply 
the pulpit, and preached here one year, mostly in the year 
1840. At the close of his labors, another vacancy occurred, 
in which Rev. Joseph Merrill, Rev. Linus North, Rev 
Koyal Mann and Rev. Ira lngraham preached at various 
times, and acted as moderator of session. Rev. Charles 
Merwin was finally called to the pulpit, and after preaching 
a few months was ordained pastor of this church Feb. 17tb, 
1842. His labors closed May 26th, 1844 Little or no de- 
lay occurred in the supply of the pulpit, as Rev. Hoeea 
Kittredge commenced laboring in the society June 2d, 1844. 
He remained six years, preaching his farewell sermon Julv 
7th. 1850. Rev. W. W. Collins succeeded him, commenc- 
ing Sept. 1st, 1850, and continuing until the 2 6th of Sep- 
tember, 1855, five years The pulpit was then vacant for 
several months. Rev. AbramBlakely commenced May 15th, 
1856, and remained until the summer of 1 861, about five 
years. The pulpit was then vacant for nearly two years, 
and some of the time no attempt at holding service was 
made, the house bsing closed. Rev. James Ireland was 
fmalrv engaged, and commenced preaching March 1st, 1863. 
His term of service was the longest of any in the history of 
the church, lasting ten years, or to the 1st of March, 1873. 
The pulpit was then vacant for just a year, though services 
;ularly continued. The Rev. James Mc Williams 



17 

preached for four weeks in the fall of 1873 and was per- 
manently engaged, but returning to New Jersey for his family 
he was taken sick and died. The Kev. Mr. Cutler com- 
menced preaching as stated supply March 1st, 1874. His 
services closed the third Sabbath in March, 1875. Trie 
pulpit was vacant until September, 1875, when the present 
stated supply, Rev. T. D wight Hunt, commenced his labors 
in this church. 

4th. Revivals. — There was a noted revival in Ontario 
county in 1799, commencing at Palmyra, and extending 
south to Canandaigua, to Bristol and other places. It is not 
known whether its influence was felt in Sodus. In 1815 or 
1816 there was evidently a time of special religious interest, 
as the records show quite a number received on profession 
of their faith. There have been several other marked revi- 
vals in the history of the church, shared very largely by all 
denominations both in labors and results. The first one of 
considerable note occurred in 1828. In fact it appears that 
there were three years or more in which great religious in- 
terest prevailed, extending into all parts of the town. This 
was mostly during the labors of Rev. Jesse Townsend, though 
it would seem to have commenced before he came. This revi- 
val was very much like the older revivals of New England, — 
numerous neighborhood meetings for prayer being held, but 
no long series of meetings at any one point. In other words, 
a great and powerful revival without a protracted meeting; Mich 
a revival as might occur in July just as well as in January; a 
revival depending not on time or place, not on the leisure and 
convenience of the people, but on the deep all-pervading pres- 
ence of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by prayer and personal 
effort. As the result of this revival there were large acces- 
sions to the church by profession of faith — twenty-five or 
thirty in 1826, fifteen or twenty in 1827, and perhaps forty 
in 1828 — not much less than one hundred in the three years, 
comprising a large number of prominent citizens and heads 
of families. The children of these families to-day, all over 
town, arc enjoying the rich Christian blessings resulting 
from that revival. They can be found, I think, in ah the 
churches, and many of them have scattered into distant 
States, bearing with them the precious hope in Christ, 
obtained in those revival scenes. After a brief interval of 
onh two years this church, in 18 i 1-2, shared in the great 
religious awakening that swept through all Central and 
Western New ^ork, and with which the name of Charles G. 
Finney, that man of blessed memory, stands so intimately 
associated. The revival was already in progress here with- 



out a settled minister in the spring of 1831, when Rev. Con- 
way P. Wing came from Auburn Seminary and labored one 
month. Eighteen united with, the church by profession of 
faith May 1st, 1831; seventeen June 5th; seven more before 
the close of the year, making, with four by letter, nearly 
fifty that year. This revived state of feeling lasted well 
into the year 1832, and many were added during that vear. 
There was also in the winter of 1838, while Rev. Joseph 
Merrill was the minister of the church, a revival of consider- 
able extent, and so .ne of the present members of the church 
date their conversion that year. Theie was considerable 
special interest in the summer of 1840, which deepened in 
the winter and spring of 1841 to a great revival in which 
forty or more experienced religion and joined this or other 
churches. This special effort was conducted very largely by 
Rev. Mr. Tousley, the celebrated Sunday-school preacher of 
those times. Night after night the old Presbyterian house 
was filled with eager listeners to his powerful appeals. Two 
years later, in the winter and spring of 1843, while Rev. 
Charles Merwin was the pastor of the church, an extensive 
revival again occurred. Rev. Beecher Coleman assisted for 
several weeks, and the solemnity of the Divine presence was 
felt by the whole community. The audiences at the evening 
meetings were very large. Prayer meetings and enquiry 
meetings were crowded with those anxious in regard to the 
salvation of their own souls or the souls of others. Great 
numbers rose for prayer in the large public meetings. On 
one occasion those presenting themselves filled all the body 
seats of the church, and no doubt in many cases the question 
whether to cross the aisle or not was the turning point in the 
great choice, the very crisis of the soul's decision. Twenty- 
six united with the church April 2d, twenty-two May 7th 
and five Nov. 5th — fifty-three in all. In 1851, under the 
ministry of the Rev. W. W. Collins, considerable religious 
interest occurred and a series of meetings was held. Thir- 
teen united with the church by profession of faith May 4th 
and others later in the summer. In the winter and spring 
of 1858, Rev. Aham Blakely, minister, extra meetings were 
held for some time, and several were added to the church. 
The next marked and decisive awakening commenced soon 
after the week of prayer in 1868 Special services were 
held for several weeks, mostly conducted by Rev. Mr. Ireland, 
though Rev. Mr. Lusk of Huron assisted for a time. This 
movement was extensive and thorough. Thirty-two united 
with the church Sunday March 28th, exceeding somewhat 
the number ever received at any other sin: 



19 

six more at the July communion. The revival work of the 
last two years is so recent as to be fresh in the minds of all. 
In thus sketching these special occasions of revival, we 
would not overlook the fact that there have been other years 
when there was a steady, healthy growth; when new mem- 
bers were added at almost every communion; when the 
Sunday-school and the prayer meetings were actively en- 
gaged in promoting a knowledge of the Bible; when the 
Christian graces were cultivated in the church, and impres- 
sions were made upon the surrounding community, Though 
abundant and long-continued rains are often welcome and 
valuable in the material world, yet bad and flower and fruit 
depend far more upon the noiseless dew, the gentle rain and 
the vitalizing sunshine. In contrast with seasons of revival 
must be noted the times of depression, the hours of trouble 
and discouragement that come to every organization as well 
as to every human soul. There are times in the history of 
a church when the minister and officers who patiently face 
difficulties, who unravel the tangled threads of old grievances, 
who administer discipline who strengthen the things that 
remain that are ready to perish, execute a work not less im- 
portant and honorable than they who lead in hours of pros- 
perity. In military life, it is doubtless a grand and stirring 
sight for a division to move over the battle plain with 
resistless daring to certain and sweeping victory; but it was a 
nobler sight than that at the battle, of Lookout Mountain, 
when a small torce of Union troops held a position against 
overwhelming odds, and, in the face of death, calmly obeyed 
the signals that Sherman flashed from another height — 
"Hold the fort, for I am coming/' To hold the position, to 
save the organization often requires executive talent of a 
high order, and a patience that must wait for the turn of the 
tide, wait for the promised reward, wait for the distant hour 
of triumph. In this church, like all others that survive for 
nearly three-quarters of a century, there have been just such 
occasions often. Wfttout a minister, and always without a 
house of worship before 1825, such times no doubt often oc- 
curred from the difficulties of early pioneer life. Since that 
may be mentioned the years 1829 and 1830, just between 
the two most noted revival seasons of the church. Thu in- 
tense excitement of that time can scarcely be understood ex- 
cept by those who remember back to it and through it. 
When political parties were rent asunder by the discussions 
over Masonry and Anti-Masonry, the church could, not 
wholly escape, and the records, brief as they are. show 
traces of this strife, when Anti-Masons refused to commune 



20 

with the church and Masons were put on trial for their sup- 
posed heresies. B*it the storm passed by and was foil wed 
by the times of great refreshing from the presence of the 
Lord. JSo, too, before and at the general resignation of the 
elders m 1837 there was a period of great difficulty. It is 
haul to tell just why. There were doubtless some reasons 
that rendered tho resignation desirable; the plan of making 
the session periodically elective, as it is now, had not been 
adopted even if it was thought possible, and there was some 
plausibility in the idea that the « -march ought to have a new 
opportunity of electing its Euling Board. But on the other 
hand, the resignation was secured by soma finesse and man- 
agement, and the subsequent election turned out differently 
from what some expected, but perhaps just as others de- 
signed to have it. Again, the Anti -Slavery discussions, in- 
tensified by the opposition they met with, created some 
difficulty in 1841 , but it was partially adjusted and the 
chasm bridged over until in the summer of 1843, just after 
a great revival, an actual division of the church occurred, 
and the Free Congregational Church was organized. This 
secession was a hard blow to the church, and the years that 
followed were full of hard work, without much promi e of 
immediate success. It was the fortune of Rev. Hosea Kti- 
tredge to meet just this perilous state of things. Coming 
here the year after the secession occurred, having had no 
share whatever in the discussions and the division, he was 
nevertheless compelled to labor under all its resulting em- 
barrassments. To bring into action the scattered forces of a 
church weakened by the loss of nearly half its working force 
was a task of no small magnitude. Emphatically, it was 
his mission to restore the old paths, to build upon the old 
foundations, to li hold the fort" until God in his Providence 
should bring about calmer counsels, and .open up the way 
for the seceded members to return consistently with their 
own convictions of duty. Patiently he faced the danger, 
did the work assigned, saved the organization, and the suc- 
cess of that policy is written in the after history of the 
church. At the close of the labors of the Rev. Abram 
B lately there was also a time of great discouragement. 
With a vacant pulpit in a dilapidated house, and the par- 
alyzing influences of civil war, the attempt to rally was dif- 
ficult in the extreme. But the society, divided in opinion as 
to the. best method of repairing the old hoase, settled that 
question by building a new one. The services of the Rev. 
James Ireland were secured, and for a time Ms work was to 
hold the fort; out his labors ripened into the glorious revival 



21 

of 1868 and the longest term of service in the history of the 
church — ten years. 

5th. Record of Biding Elders and Deacons. — Purchase 
Roberts was bom in Vermont in 1768, married there and re- 
moved to Junius. His wife dying, he married Widow 
Ensley. Mrs. Peeler, widow of the late John Peeler, is a 
daughter of Mrs. Ensley. Mr. Roberts made a profession 
of religion in Junius, and was a deacon in the Junius church. 
Removed to Sodus in 1818, settled on the McGarty farm 
west of the village, united with the Presbyterian church and 
was elected Ruling Elder in 1819. He was very active in 
holding meetings Mrs. Peeler remembers riding behind 
hiai horseback to meetings at Sodus Centre. He moved to 
the Centre in 1825, buving the Reynolds' mill property with 
Jeremiah Case — taking the saw mill for his part, and living 
where Edward Proseus' new house is. After a few years he 
engaged in selling patent rights. He died at the residence 
of a daughter in Cattaraugus County, Nov. 27th, 1834. 

PMneas Hay ward was born in Bridge water, Mass. After 
marriage he first settled in Windsor, Berkshire County. 
Then he removed to Lorraine, Jefferson County, N. Y., pre- 
viously remaining a few months near Williamstown, Mass. 
He came with his family to Sodus and settled at the present 
village in the fall of 1812, living in a log-house that stood 
about at the west end of Mrs. Samuel Green's garden, He 
made a profession of religion in Lorraine, and united with 
the Congregational church, He joined the Presbyterian 
church of Sodus at its organization, Oct. 22d, 18 L 2, imme- 
diately after his arrival, and was elected one of the first 
deacons; Aug. 11th, 1819, he was chosen one of the first 
ruling elders, and ordained Aug. 22d. He served in both of 
these offices until his removal to Fredonia in 1831, where he 
died. 

Joseph Curtiss was probably a member as early as 1816 or 
1817, though the records do not give the date nor state 
whether he united by letter or profession of faith. He was 
elected a ruling elder Aug. 11th. 1819, and ordained with 
the others the 22d. He removed to Lyons about 1824 His 
business was that of builder, and he is well remembered in 
Sodus as having erected quite a number of the earliest barns. 
A letter from Columbus Croul states that his name does not 
appear upon the records of the church of Lyons, but that 
he was attentive to meetings and maintained a Christian 
walk. I have not ascertained when he died, but it was in 
Lyons at an advanced age. 

Kitchell Bell was born in Darien, Connecticut, in 1777. 



22 

He removed to Wiliiamstown, Massachusetts, married there 
and came to Sodus in 18 1 2. He experienced religion in two 
or three years after that, and united with the church. In 
-1819, Aug. 11th. he was elected ruling elder, and ordained- 
Sunday the 22d. He heldthe office until 1837/when he 
united in the general resignation and was not re-elected; 
he remained a memher of the church until 1843, when he 
united in the formation of tie Free Congregational Church. 
He lived to a good old age — lived to see the proclamation of 
universal emancipation — and cli d at the age of 86. 

Lemuel Higgins was a resident of W illiamstown, Mass., and a 
member of the Congregational Church there. He came to 
Sodus in 1811 or 1812. He settled on the corner where Jesse 
Green lives, buying ten acres there and forty south, now owned 
by Mr. Rogers. - His house stood near the present corn ^ 
house of Jesse Green. He, wit-h his wife Charity Higgins, 
united in the organization of the church Oct. 23d, 1812. 
He was chosen ruling elder at the first election, Aug. 11th, 
1819, ordained with the others oa the 22cl, and continued in 
office until his death, which occurred Nov. 2d, 1824. His 
remains are buried m the old cemetery. He was the father 
of Mrs Judge Green, and also of the late Dr. '-iggins of 
Pultnevville. 

Linus Stevens. — Of Linus Stevens'; early history I have 
not been able to get any account. He was in Sodus quite 
early; was a physician, though not practicing to any extent. 
Judging by the place his name occupies on the roll, he joined 
the church about 1815, was elected a ruling elder at the first 
election in 1^19, and was the first clerk of session. He 
lived on the place where George W. Tillotson now lives. 
L~e removed to Rochester in 1825 — perhaps to Batavia first; 
he immediately assisted in organizing the Second Congrega- 
tional church or Rochester. Nov. 18th, 1825, and wes elected 
a ruling elder, but in about eight months he went to New 
Y. rk or Brooklyn, and ever after lived there with his son 
Orlando, and died in 1851 at the advanced age of 85 years. 

Timothy Axttll was born in New Jersey. He first came to 
Gsneva and remained there a few years, then came to Sodus 
with Judge Nicholas, and built the first mills at the point 
that bears the Judge's name. He settled soon after on the 
farm now owned by the heirs of Ralph Palmer. He united 
with the Presbyterian Church April 15th, 1815. He was 
chosen one of the first elders in 1819, held the office eighteen 
years, until the general resignation; he was not re-elected. 
He remained a member until 1843 ; and then united with the 
Free Congregational Church. He was a strong, brave rnau. 



23 

daring to utter his own views, which were always pronounced 
and definite, and seemed to penetrate the future. To the 
writer he said, in 1844. "Young man, it this slavery ques- 
tion is not settled soon, you will see rough times. It will be 
the bullet and the steel." He died April 21st, 1847. 

Nalhanf'el Kellogg was from Williamstown, Mass. I do 
not know whether that was his birthplace or not. He was 
a professor of religion when he came to Sodus, about the 
year 1814. He settled on the farm now owned by Samuel 
Belden; Jacob Bacon, his son-in-law. settled. on the present 
farm of Sheldon G-oodsell. Mr. Kellogg afterwards moved 
into the village, living in the house now owned by Charles 
Williams. The records do not show when he was elected a 
ruling elder, but it was about 1827, as his name appears in 
meetings of session soon after that. He served until the 
general resignation of 1837, and was not re-elected. He 
was very highly esteemed as a devoted, pious man; he died 
March 31st, 1851, and is buried in the old cemetery. 

Levi Gaylord was born in Harrington, Conn., April 18th, 
1794, He studied for his profession with Dr. Hitchcock, 
and was licensed as a physician by the County Censors. He 
settled in Otisco. N. Y. } about the year 1816 He made a 
profession of religion in 1817, and joined the Congregational 
Church of Otisco. He came to Sodus in 1823 and settled 
in this village, and united with the Presbyteriaa Church 
Jan. 11th, 1824; he was elected to the office of ruling elder 
in February, 1828, and ordained Sunday the 18th. He was 
soon after chosen clerk of the session, and the records, care- 
fully written up, are in his handwriting tor nine year.*, in 
Sept., 1843, he assisted in organizing the Free Congrega- 
tional Church. He died Sept. 6th, 1852. After his con- 
version, through all his life he was active in religious work 
and assisted by pen and voice the cause of temperance and 
freedom. 

Richard Bell was born in Stamfield, Fairfield County, 
Conn., Jan. 28th, 1784; was married Feb. 25th, 1808. He 
is supposed to have made a profession of religion soon after 
his carriage, and united with the Congregational Church in 
Stamford. He moved to Sodus in April, 1828, and settled 
on the Kidge west of the village. He joined the Presbyterian 
Church by letter July 9th, 182S, elected an elder Nov. 5th, 
1830, and ordained to that office Dec. 5th; he continued in 
office until his death Nov. 24th, 1865. He was a member 
of the church thirty seven years, a ruling elder thirty-five 
yej is; he was also superintendent of the Sunday-school for 
several years, and clerk of session for ten vears or more. 



Byinylon NcweUwn* born in Columbia County. • te mar- 
ried {Sarah Vaughn, and came to Sodus at an early day- — 
probably before 1820. He first settled at Messenger's mills, 
but in a few years bought the farm now owned by his son 
Philander. In both places he carried on the tanning busi- 
ness, but afterwards built a grist-mill. He experienced re- 
ligion in the great revival of 1828, during the ministry of 
Rev. Jesse Townsend,. uniting with the church March 9th of 
that year. He was elected to the office of ruling elder May 
26th, 1837, after the general resignation, and continued in 
that office until his removel to Phelps in 1852; his letter to 
the church in that place was granted Nov. 5th of that year. 
He resided there until his death, which occurred only a few 
years since, at the age of 75 years. 

William D. Cook united with this church Nov. 1st, i835, 
was chosen ruling elder after the full resignation of the ses- 
sion May 26th, i837 > and ordained June 5th He was active 
in Christian work, and is especially remembered as a success- 
ful Sabbath-school superintendent, lie shared largely in the 
anti-slavery discussions of the period 40 to 45, withdrew 
Irom the church in 1843, but did not unite with the Free 
Congregational Church. He. removed to Vinelaud a few 
years since, where he still resides, At the close of this 
work will be found an account of his life, written by him- 
self, exceedingly valuable not only for its interesting per- 
sonal history , but for the strong testimony, after forty-five 
years of critical study by an educated scientific man, that 
the Scriptures are the word of God, and the only guide to 
the "path of the just that shineth brighter and brighter 
unto the perfect day. " 

Selh Coleman was born in Amherst, Mass. His ancestors 
were noted for their piety and their devotion to the institu- 
tions of religion; his brother, Kev. Beecher Coleman, was a 
minister of the gospel, especially successful as a revivalist, 
laboring in that capacity in Sodus for several weeks in 1843. 
Uev. Lyman Coleman, distinguished as a traveler in Pales- 
tine and author of several Biblical works, is also a connec- 
tion of the family. Seth Coieinan united with the Congre- 
gational Church of Amherst in early life. He removed to 
Sodus in 1818, anil settled upon the farm now occupied by 
his sons, Linus and Lyman Coleman, He entered vigorously 
upon Christian work in those pioneer times, holding meet- 
ings in school-houses and private families. He united with 
the church soon alter moving here, arid was elected a ruling 
eider. He on tinned iu office until 1843 when he united in 



the organization of the Free Congregational Church. He 
died Nov. 29th. 1857. 

William P. Irwin was born in Newbury, N. Y , in 1789, 
removed to Oaks Corners, in Phelps, in 1799. Id 1811 he 
came to Sodus and bought the farm on which he spent the 
remainder of his life. He made a^ profession of religion in 
1838, uniting with the church Ma^ch 4th, and on the next 
Sunday, March I lth, seven of his children were baptized. 
* e was elected a ruling elder Nov. 16th, 1841, and ordained 
to that office Nov, 28th; he held the office until his death, 
which occurred M rch 18th, 1864. He had been a member 
of the church twenty-six years ; and an elder twenty-three 
years. His remains are buried in the Bushnell burying- 
ground. 

Job B. Norris was born in Hanover, New Jersey, in 1789. 
He came with his father's family to Cayuga County in 1796, 
and himself to East Palmyra in 1804 Then he married the 
daughter of David Foster, upon whose farm the first, religi- 
ous meeting in Palmyra was held. He moved to Sodus in 
1816, and settled upon the farm where his sou Samuel 
Norris now lives. He made a profession of religion about 
1824 or 5, and joined the Presbyterian Church ; he was 
elected a ruling eider Jan. 19th, 1848, and ordained Feb. 
6th; he was also elected deacon and ordained to that office 
Nov. 10th, 1850. He served in both of these offices UDtil 
the infirmities oi years prevented him from attendance. lie 
died in 1864, having been a member of the church forty 
years, an elder sixteen years, and a deacon fourteen years. 

Stephen T. Fairbanks was born in the town of Tyringham, 
Berkshire County, Mass , June 14th, 1794 He married the 
d-iughier of Nathaniel Kellogg in the year 1817. He. moved 
to New Marlborough in 1818 and to New Hartford, Conn., 
about 1825; he came to Sodus in the fall of 1827, and the 
next spring brought his family. He made a profession of 
religion when he was about twenty-one, and joined the Con- 
gregational Church of Tyringham. He united with the 
Presbyterian Church of Sodus Nov. 9th, 1829; was chosen 
deacon Nov. 5th, 1830, and a ruling elder May 26th, 1837, 
after the general resignation; be continued in both of these 
offices until his death, March 22d, 1850, having served as 
deacon twenty years and elder thirteen years; - he was also 
clerk of session, thfc records for many years being in his 
handwriting. He lived in the village, but did business as a 
clothier at Sodns Certre for a considerable portion of his life. 

Bethuel Heed was from West field, Mass., and came to 
Sodus in 1817. He had been a soldier in the army during 



26 

the war of 1812/13 and 14; was once detailed as one of a 
platoon to shoot a deserter. He settled, with his brother 
Joshua, on the farm now owned by John A. Boyd; he was a 
man of education and ability, and taught school consider- 
ably in this town. He made a profession of religion in 
1826. uniting with the church Sept, 1st of that year; he wan 
chosen a ruling elder Nov, 14th, 1841, and ordained Nov. 
28th; he nominally held the office while he remained in town, 
but did not serve for the last two or three years, having pro- 
posed to resign, but the resignation was not accepted by the 
church. He went West about the year 1862, and now re- 
sides in Mishawaka, St. Joe County, Indiana. 

Garret Gurnet was born in Hempstead, Rockland County, 
January 1799. He came to Sodus with his father's family 
in February, 1814, settling in the village, the house now 
known as the ''Bee-hive" being the old family homestead. 
He made a profession of religion in 1826, and united with 
the church Nov. 5th; he was elected a ruling elder Jan. 19th, 
1848, and ordained to that office Feb. 6th." In 1S68 he re- 
signed ia order that the "Rotary System of Eldership might 
be fully adopted, but was immediately elected to serve for 
six years. He died Nov. 9th, 1873, having been an elder - 
twenty-five years, a member of the church forty-seven years. 
John W. Bell was born in the town of Darien, Fairfield 
County, Conn., in the year 1811. Came with his father's 
family to Sodus in April, 1828. Rev. Jesse Townsend was 
then the minister of this church. He made a profession of 
religion in 1831, just before the Rev. C. P. Wing com- 
menced his services here. Mr. Bell united with the church 
May 1st, 1831: he was elected to tire office of deacon Nov. 
10th, 1850, to the office of ruling eider May 31st, 1863, and 
served in both offices* until his removal to Palmyra in 1868. 
He had been superintendent of Sunday-school and also clerk 
of the Society for many years, and is still living at Palmyra. 
Matthew Clark was elected deacon at the organization of 
the church, Oct. 23d, 18 12, and no doubt continued in office 
while he remained in town, but I have no account of his 
eariy lite. 

Joshua Reed wai from Westiicld, Mass. Came to Sodus 
in 1816, and settled on the Boyd farm, north-east of Wal- 
iington. He united with the church by profession of faith, 
Sept. 1st, 1826; he was chosen* deacon Nov. 5th, 1830; or- 
dained Dec. 5th, and serred in that office until his death, 
Oct, 26th, 1847. 

Waller Knapp was born in Chatham, Columbia County, 
Oct. loth. 1799. He was married in Dec, 1821. and resided 



27 

iri Chatham until 1834, when he came with his family to 
Sodus and settled south of the village. He experienced re- 
ligion in the revival of 1843, and united with the church 
May 7th; he was chosen deacon Jan, 2d, 1848, in place of 
Joshua Reed, deceased, and performed the duties of that 
office until his death, May 11th, 1850. 

Thomas Berry united with the church by profession of 
faith July 4th, 1858. He was chosen deacon to fill the 
vacancy caused by the death of Job B, Norris, and served in 
that office until his removal to Michigan in 1868. 

Frederick Wadhams united with the church by profession 
of faith, March 7th, 1858. He was chosen deacon April 
19th, 1868, and served in that office until he removed to 
Pittsford. 

The present deacons of the church are Charles D, Gaylord 
and Porter P. Bulls. 

The present board of elders consists of three classes : 

1st. — James Knapp, E. R Hitchcock, — term of service 
expires April, 1878. 

2d. — Daniel Tuttle, Lewis H. Clark, — term of service 
expires April, 1880. 

3d. — Homer Pulver, Willis T. Gaylord, — term of Service 
expires April, 1882, ■ 



THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF JOY. 

This society was organized March 18th, 1845, under the 
name of "The Church of Wayne," though it is better known 
by the title given above. Eleven members were from the 
church of Sodus, and five from the church of Newark. The 
ground for a church and cemetery was given by Samuel 
White, and the following were the first trustees: 

Henry I. Pulver, Martin Fredenburgh, Adam Tinkk- 
paugh, Samuel White, Nelson Lapham, Henry R. Leggeett. 

Meetings were held in the school-house for several years, 
and various ministers preached there. Rev, Hosea Kittrodge 
and Rev. William Collins, from the Ridge, also Rev. Mr, 
Haskins from Marion. Rev. Mr. Hotchkiss, author of a His- 
tory oi the Churches of Western New York, supplied the 
church regularly for a time; also Rev. Mr. Fitch. No house 
of worship was erected, and service;; were finally suspended 






28 

But a new movement and partial re-organization took place 
Oct. 18th, 1852, and the house was built in the summer of 
1853, and dedicated Dec. 23d. Rev. Charles Hawley, now 
of Auburn, preached the sermon. During the early organi- 
zation the elders chosen were Martin Fredenburgh, Henry 
Pulver and Stephen G. Weaver. Mr. Weaver removed to 
Sodus village. Henry Pulver died in March, 1853, and not 
long after Mr. Fredenburgh. April 16th, 1854, Enoch 
Granger, Anthony Pulver, and David Leighton were elected 
elders and ordained to that office. The church has main- 
tained public worship very steadily since that time. Minis- 
ters, laboring there, have been Rev. Mr. Ottaian, two years; 
Chester Hoicomb, eight years, and Mr. Wilcox, two years. 
Students from Auburn Seminary have assisted in the supply 
of the pulpit. Rev. Wm. Young is the present stated 
supply. Twenty-three members were taken from this church 
at one time to form the church of Fairville, and four to join 
in the organization at Sodus Centre. 



PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SODUS OENTRE = 

The society was formed March 16th, 1863. Rev. Chester 
Hoicomb was Moderator of the meeting and George Kellogg, 
Clerk. The following persons were present, participating in 
the proceedings as voters: Robert Shopardson, Lewis Crane, 
John F, Proseus, John F, Peeler, Harrison Cottrell, George 
W. Kellogg, L. D. Allen, Asel Carpenter, Josiah Viely, 
Solomon Featherly, John Brant, Peter Brant, E. H. Sturges. 

The first trustees chosen were: John F. Proseus, Lewis 
Crane, Harrison Cottrell, Robert Shepardson, John F. 
Peeler, and the first clerk, George Kellogg. The certificate 
of organization was acknowledged before Durfee Wilcox, 
Notary Public, and recorded March 19th, 1863. The 
society adopted a seal with appropriate inscription They 
erected a house of worship in 1866, at an expense of $1,000. 
A commission of Lyons Presbytery, consisting of Rev. Wm. 
L. Page and Rev. Wm. Young, constituted the church Oct. 
26th, 1870, with nine members: 

Robert Shepardson, John F Peeler, Harrison Cottrell. 



29 

Mrs. Ann Shepardson, Mrs. Susan Peeler, Mrs. Jane Cot- 
trell, Mrs , Ann Proseus, Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, Mrs. Mary 
Taylor. 

Robert Shepardson was elected ruling elder, and ordained 
to that office at the time of the organization 

R. S, Borradaile is tjie present clerk of "the society. 



30 




CHAPTER III 



Baptist Churches. 

Many of the earliest pioneer families in the central part, of 
the town were Baptists. Elder Seba Norton had penetrated 
the vvilderness in 1803 or 4, and engaged immediately in 
preaching the gospel to the settlers scattered over a territory 
of perhaps thirty or forty miles east and west. Sent out by 
no missionary socie y, and limited by little authority save 
the great commission, "Go ye into all the world and preach 
the gospel to every creature/' his labors were varied and 
abundant / and he fearlessly met toil and danger in the ser- 
vice of his Divine Master. 

In 1809 and 10 a few settlers came in from Williamson 
and elsewhere, sufficient to form a church, and Jfdder Norton 
took immediate steps to effect an organization. 

John Holcomb had built the first bouse in ftodus village, 
and brought his family here in November, 1809. Lyman 
Seymour, father ot Uriah Seymour, moved upon the farm 
now owned by Jacob Lefurgey in March, 1810. Daniel 
Hart, about the same time, built upon the McOarty farm, 
and Russell A. Routh in the present young orchard <>f 
Samuel Norris. These were all from Williamson. On the 
22d of February, L810 Joshua Palmer, father of George 
Palmer, with his family, also reached Sodus and settled 
where Wm. Hopkins now lives — his house standing by (he 
old apple trees near the present barn. His brother-in-law, 
Joshua Danlord, lather of the late Samuel Danford, came lo 
Sodus a few weeks after and settled on the well-known 
homestead of the family, a mile east of F. A Granger's. 
Amasa Johnson was also upon the Proseus farm, now owned 
by Mrs Rums A. Moses; John Johnson probably on Whit- 
ney's hill, and Jacob Walker on the hill near David Poi ich- 
ors, where the old apple trees clearly designate a pioneei 
house. All these may be described, 1 think, as Baptist 



31 

families. And we can now draw another picture of Sodns 
village and its immediate neighborhood, as it was in the early 
spring of 1810, eighteen months before the arrival of the 
Greens, and two and a half years before the organization of 
the Presbyterian Church. The village consisted of Mr. 
Holcomb's solitary house, and the underbrush was cut from 
the street just enough for teams to be driven through; 
Bouth, Seymour, and perhaps Walker, were on the east; 
Hart on the west; Palmer, Danford, Norton and Amasa 
Johnson on the north, and John Johnson south. 

The following is the record of the steps taken to form a 
society: 

" Sodtjs, March llth, 1810. 

" Brothers and sisters held a conference. 

1st. Opened the meeting by prayer. 

2d. Chose Elder Norton Moderator, and to inquire into 
our standing, 

3d. Found agreeable fellowship one with another, as to 
our standirg in sister churches. 

4th. Inquired of each other in respect to faith and 
practice, and found a comfortable union. 

5th. Adjourned this meeting to the first day of April.'' 

"April 1st, 1810. 

"Met at the house of Joshua Palmer according to appoint- 
ment. 

1st, Opened the meeting by prayer. 

2d. Brothers and sisters agreed to embody into a church, 
if the Lord will. 

3d. We thought it best to send to the brethern in sister 
churches, viz: First Church in Lyons, First Church in Wil- 
liamson (now Marion), ditto Palmyra and Farmington, and 
Phelpstown church, to sit in council with us to see if they 
could give us fellowship. 

4th. The names of those that united into a church: Elder 
Seba Norton, Joshua Palmer, Joshua Danford, Lyman 
Seymour, Bussei A. Bouth, Daniel Hart, Margaret Norton, 
Jeruah Norton, Polly Palmer, Hannah Seymour, Liddy 
Bouth, Catherine Hart, Christiana Johnson, Chioe Holcomb. 

5th. Adjourned the meeting to the 12th day of April, at 
the house of Joshua Palmer, at 10 o'clock a. m." 

"April 12th, 1810. 

"Met according to appointment with the brethren from 

sister churches. Opened the meeting by prayer. Brethren 

sat in conference with ur and inquired as to our standing in 

faith and practice, and found a comfortable union with us" 



Elder Eleazer Fairbanks* gave us the right hand of 
fellowship." 

'April 28 th, 1810. 

"Met according to appointment and opened meeting with 
prayer. 

1st. Chose Elder Norton Moderator. 

2d. Chose Bro Daniel Hart to serve the church as Clerk. 

3d. Toted to get a "book to keep church records in. 

4th. Voted that each member of the church pay one 
shilling per year for the support of the table. 

5th. Proceeded to renew covenant and found an agreeable 
union." 

May 26th of the same year, Nathan Tuttle joined by letter. 
Nov. 18th, Jacob Walker joined by letter. Feb. 23d, 1811, 
Hannah Hovey joined by letter. Sept. 29th, 1811, John 
Munson and- wife were baptized and received into the 
church. Jan. 27th, 1812, Elijah King was baptized and 
received as a member. Aug. 22d, 1812, Sally Kingsley. 
Other members received before 1821 were Unice King, 
Samuel Thompson, Ira Shelley, John M. Granger, Holly St. 
John, Mercy Sherman, Kuth Bartlett, William Rogers, Mr. 
Lambert and wife, Chauneey Strong, John Johnson, Amos 
Johnson, Barnabas Kinney and wife, Walter Waters, Pandy 
Clark, Hannah Cady, Polly Clark, Avis Tinkham, Mrs. 
Bradley, Joseph Tinkham, Henry Selleck and wife, Chamorda 
Lovell, Nancy Seeley, Mille Doolittle, Lewis Bradley, James 
Wright, Jerry Cady, Silas Simmons, Sarah Bradley, Asenath 
Wright, Fanny Cady and Ruth Simons. 

Many of these members received in 1818-19 and 20, were 
from Williamson, particularly the Russell neighborhood, 
and the church voted. Sept 11th, 1819, to hold one-half of 
their covenant meetings in Williamson. A year later the 
brethren in the south part of Sodus and north part of Lyons, 
were authorized to hold separate covenant meetings. 

March 3d, 1821, brethren living west of the house of 
Theodoras I. Polhamous, on the Nathan Weaver farm, were 
authorized to organize a separate society. 

This was the foundation of the Baptist Church of Wil- 
liamson, 

The records show that up to this time the work of Elder 
Norton and the Baptist Church of Sodus extended over a 
large territory, including Williamson, Sodus, the north part 



*This must have been the pioneer Presbyterian minister of Palmyra 
jjil! Pultneyville. 



of Lyons and Arcadia. The church held its covenant meet- 
ings and other services at many different points, so much so 
as scarcely to have a -fixed home. These points were: 

1st. Sodus village, for several ye.ars at Joshua Palmer's; 
sometimes at Mr. Hovey's and various other houses, includ- 
ing the school-house. 

2d. In the vicinity of the present Brick Church, at the 
school-house, at private houses, and at the barn now owned 
by Morris DeKay. 

3d The "Merchant school-house/' that stood at the forks 
of the road, on the way to Lyons, beyond Mr. Thorntons. 

4th. The Russell neighborhood in Williams n, or as it 
was known then, " ( )ut in thirteen." 

To the east and southeast from Sodus . village we find the 
following pioneer families, with Baptist sentiments or prefer- 
ences, some or all of their members. 

William Delano moved from Maine in 1815, and settled 
on the east side of the road, opposite the Lefurgey burial- 
place. With him came the Hay dens, his relatives by mar- 
riage. Mr, Delano himself had been here in 1813, and with 
him Richard Hayden. Enoch Carl and John Butler. In 
1815 other members of the Carl family, together with the 
Dennis and Lane families, came with him to this section, 
and soon alter the Leightons. These settled from east to 
west along the boundary line of Sodus and Lyons, extending 
to the northeast part of Arcadia, familiarly known as "West 
Woods," and finally, in this railroad age, as Zurich. 

Still earlier, Mrs. Tinney, mother of George M. Tinney, 
and Wm. Champlin came to South Sodus. The Pendell 
family were also at South Sodus quite early, and probably 
others inclined to the Baptist Church The three brothers 
Walling — William, James and Joseph — came in quite early 
from Junius. "Rossiters Corners," where the brick meeting 
house was afterwards erected, was a favorable central point 
between Sodus village and these families just enumerated. 
In the judgment of Elder Norton and others, it was the 
place to make a stand. The elder, with his accustomed 
energy, in 1824 and 5, entered upon the work of building a 
meeting-house. The ground was given by the Pultney estate 
to "The First Baptist Society of Sodus" forever, for the pur- 
poses of "a .irlebe, a chapel and a burial place." It was sur- 
veyed by Scth Coleman". This place had already been used 
many years for the burial of the dead by common consent, with- 
out any title. Old residents say that burials took place there 
before any timber had been cut. There is one stone bearing 
thedatc 1809, and there were probably burials earlier than that. 



34 

The brick meeting-house was begun in 1825, and mostly 
finished in 1826. The records of the church give no account 
of its dedication. The church filed no certificate of incor- 
poration until 1^25. Counting labor, one- third of the ex- 
pense of the house wa? no doubt borne by Rider Norton. 

Early Officers, Delegates to Associations and Councils, 
and General Items. — Daniel Ha"t was the first clerk. The 
first trustees mentioned in the records are Ira Shelley and 
Joshua Palmer, chosen Dec. 17th, 1814. 

Dec. 31st, 1815, the church voted three dollars for the 
East India Missionary Society. This is very likely the first 
missionary donation in Sodus. 

At the same meeting Bro. Johnson and Bro. Hart wer« 
chosen "to serve as substitutes in the room of deacons," 
and they were also sent as delegates to the Ontario Baptist 
Association Aug. 31st, 1816. 

Jan. 2d, 18 1 9, the church of Lyons having asked for 
delegates to a council, " three beloved and faithful brethren/' 
John Johnson, Elisha King and Holly St John were sent. 

The church shared largely in the great revival work of 
1828, receiving thirty members in March and April. 

It appears from the records that the first covenant meet- 
ing in the brick house whs July 15th, 1826, as Bro. Sumner 
was chosen k, to keep the keys." 

March 10th, 1834, fifty members were dismissed to form a 
new church 

June, 1834, Lawrence Vosburgh and James Walling were 
chosen deacons, and James Hopkins clerk. The delegates to 
the convention to form the Wayne Association wer3 Elder 
Norton, Dea. Vosburgh, Eeuben Brown, Peter Brower, and 
Jacob Winter. 

March 5th, 1846, Daniel Paul, Thomas Hopkins and 
Peter iirower were chosen deacons. 

The history of this church is closely related to every step 
of pioneer emigration. In its organization going 1 far back 
to 1810, and through the labors of Elder Norton still further 
to 1804. it led the earliest Christian worship and furnished 
the earliest Christian services for the incoming settlers. It 
is worthy of high honor as the pioneer church of Sodus. It 
has been at times greatly reduced in numbers by dismissions 
to form the Williamson Church and the West Baptist 
Church of Sodus; by deaths and removals, and by an unfor- 
tunate division in 1845 into old school and new. Yet by 
the unyielding persistency of a few, and these very often 
women, public worship has usually been maintained through 
all its history. With commendable prudence the society 



35 

have recently repaired their venerable edifice, instead of at- 
tempting to build a new house, at the risk of debt and em- 
barrassment. Long .may the "old brick meeting- house" 
stand to remind us of the sacred memories ot the past. Its 
plain, unadorned walls, so long a landmark on the road from 
Lyons co Sodus, are associated with the plain simple virtues 
of our fathers, and preach to us lessons of economy and pru- 
dence far better than the spires, cornices and .useless adorn- 
ments of more modern structures. 

In its burial ground were laid to rest many of the earliest 
settlers. They lie in the long close rows of graves, unmarked, 
but sleeping as peacefully under the buttercups and the daisies, 
as those who are entombed beneath monumental marble. 

We add a few notices of the early names mentioned in 
these records: 

Elder Norton was the pioneer minister whose name was a 
familiar one through thirty years of early settlement. A 
very full and interesting sketch of his life will be found at 
the close of this work. 

John Holcomb came to this town from Williamson; his early 
history I have not obtained. He removed to Marietta, Ohio, 
became a Judge of the county, and one of his sous Sheriff. 
Lyman Seymour, father of Uriah Seymour, was born in 
Ancram, Columbia County, Aug. 7th, 1761; married there 
and moved to Pompey, Onondaga County, in 1795. Froji 
there h^ came to Williamson in 1807, and lived on what 
was afterwards the Dr. Bennett farm. In the fall of 1809 
he bought a portion of the present Lefurgey farm in this 
town, and moved the next spring. Himself and wife were 
previously members of the Baptist Church, and a few dayp 
after their arrival in Sodus, they assisted in organizing the 
church here. Mr. Seymour died Aug. 9th, 1824. 

Daniel Hart was an early settler in Williamson, In 
1808 or 9 he bought the present McUarty farm in Sodus, but 
remained only a few years, sold out to Deacon Roberts and 
went to Ohio. 

Joshua Palmer and Joshua Danford were brothers-in- 
law, their wives being sisters. The former came from Sara- 
toga, and originally k is supposed from the Eastern States. 
His children were born in Saratoga. He died in Sodus at 
an advanced age. Mr Danford came from New Hampshire 
in early life to Rensselaer County, near Troy. He had been 
a soldier through the war of the Revolution, and received 
his pay in Continental paper currency, which was so nearly 
worthless that a hundred dollars would scarceJy buy a pair 
of boots. Hu died Feb. 22d_. 1815. 



36 

Russell A. Boulh was from Williamson, fie remained in 
Sodus but a few years and went to Ohio. His barn was the 
one already mentioned as the place of many meetings in 
early years. 

The names ot the women entered on the church roll in 

1810 were from these families, except Christiana Johnson, 

•who was the wife of Amasa Johnson. There were three of 

the Johnson brothers, Amasa, John and Amos. They were 

very early settlers in Sodus. 

Ira Shelley was the first purchaser of the Grurnee farm in 
the village, I suppose, and afterwards lived m a log house 
near Colonel Hugunin's present warehouse. 

Sally Kirgsley was the wife of Flavel Kingsley, one of 
the founders of the Presbyterian Church, and sister of the 
wife of Mark Johnson, the early Methodist minister. 

William Borers lived in Williamson, where his son, Wm. 
H. Rogers, now lives. He was an early pioneer, mentioned 
in " Turner's History of the Pnltney Estate/' and worthy 
of an extended notice in a general history of this section. 

Mr. Lambert and loife lived in Williamson, on what was 
afterward the John Stretch farm. 

Jerry Cady and wife, Fanny Cady, were from Saratoga, 
and lived in the Russell neighborhood. 

Lewis Bradley was the father of Mrs. Jonathan Leighton 
of this village. He was born in Richfield, Connecticut, in 
1781. Went to Saratoga in early life, was married to Sarah 
Waterbury in 1807, and made a prolession of religion there. 
He came to Williamson in 1813 and settled in the Russell 
neighborhood, on the farm now owned by Dr, Selby. He 
probably belonged to the Baptist Church of " 13" (now 
Marion) for a few years, but in 1820, Feb. 19th, united with 
the Church of Sodus. The next year he received, with 
others, a letter of dismission to form the church ot Wil- 
liamson, He was elected deacon in the new church, and 
discharged the duties of that office for many years. He 
died at Marion in 1864. 

Henry Selleck and wife, and James Wright and wife 
were also from Saratoga, and lived in or near the Russell 
neighborhood. 

Silas Simons was also living in the same district. 

Elisha King was born in Springfield, Mass., June, 1781, 
and was married Dec. 9th, 1803, to Eunice Wordeu. They 
came to Sodus in 1809 or 10, and settled on the corner 
where Lyman E. Rose now. resides He afterwards lived 
a short time on the Andrus Weaver farm near Joy, but in 
1815 moved -to the farm where he spent the rest of his life, 



37 

He experienced religion soon after coming to Sodus, and was 
baptized Jan. 27th, 1812; he gave considerable labor in 
building the brick church, and was for many years one of the 
strong supporters of the Baptist Society; he died Oct. 17th, 
1866. 

Joseph Tinhham lived near Mr King, but removed to 
Ohio or Michigan at an early day. 

Lawrence Vosburgh was born m Ancrarn, Columbia Courts. 
ty J Sept. 3d, 1801, and married Cena Milham Jan. 31st, 
1826. The next fall they came to Sodus and bought the 
farm of Amasa Johnson. Afterwards they removed to the 
Geneva road, but in 1833 bought the farm where Homer 
Pulver now resides. He experienced religion in 1828, and 
united with the Baptist Church; he served in the office of 
deacon for many years, and was often a delegate to councils 
and associations. He died in April, 1871. 

Mille Doolittle was the first wife of William P, Irwin. 

Holly St. John came to Sodus in 1815 or 16, and settled 
in a Log house near the present barn of Josiah Rice; he 
afterwards moved into the village. His name appears in 
the records of the church as early as 1819, though the date 
of his admission is not given. He was very often appointed 
upon committees and chosen delegate to the association. 
The families of his daughters, Mrs. Deming and Mrs. 
Jewell, with himself, were for many years the strong depend- 
ence of the Baptist church in Sodus village. 

John M Granger was one of that large connection which 
made the old name of "Granger's Settlement" so appropri- 
ate for the neighborhood east, west and north of the Johnson 
Corners. There is no record of his admission to the church, 
but his nam ? apears as a contributor to the expenses June 
25th, 1814. He married Sally Hayden, sister to Mrs. 
Delano, and lived on the farm afterwards owned by R< j v. 
Wm. Ward In a few years he moved north of the Ridge, 
to the farm now owned by Frederick Blaix'hard. and there 
he spent the rest of his life. 



THE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SODUS. 

The West Baptist Church of Sodus was organized in 1834. 
The first step was a petition, Feb. 1st of that year, to the 
Baptist Church of Sodus Centre for letters of lismission to 
form a new church. On the 13th the petitioners met at the 
house of Reuben Graham (which is the old 1 ouse on the 



west side of the road from Thomas Potwine's), and took the 
steps necessary to call a council for organization. 

Elder Martin Miner was Moderator of this meeting;, 
Chauncey Strong, Clerk. 

Committee to invite the Council: John M. Granger, 
Reuben Graham, Simeon Graham, Benj. Sweet, Robert 
Gowthorp and Moses Parke. 

Delegates to have seats in said Council when assembled: 
Elder Miner, Chauncey Strong, and Reuben Graham. 

Twelve churches were invited. The council met in the 
Episcopal Church, Sodus Village. March 5th, 1834. Mod- 
erator, Elder Philander Kelsey of Penfield ; and Asa G. Felt, 
of the same church, clerk. The council organized the 
church that day with fifty- two members. The first clerk of 
the church was Moses Parke. The first deacons: Reuben 
Graham, John M. Granger. The stated places of meeting 
were alternately at the log school-house, standing on the 
ground now occupied by the new school-house (Centenary 
neighborhood), and at the school-house in Sodus Village. 
The first Communion was April 20th, 1834. The records of 
this church are written up with considerable care for several 
years and are very interesting. 

The roil of members includes the names of many still 
resident in the west part of the town — or well known as 
former citizens there, — also in the village and north towards 
the Lake. Graham, Selby, Baker, Pierce, Sweet, Granger, 
Gowthorp, Palmer, Jewell, Deming, St. John, Strong, Nye, 
Ewers, Johnson, Delano, Polhamtis, Pettis, Hunt, Ells- 
worth and Onderdonk are some of the names on the roll. 

This church was disbanded by a formal vote Oct. 10th, 
1840. Several causes contributed to this result, but the 
chief one was probably the want of a common central point, 
where they might conveniently erect a house of worship — 
those from the village and north being unwilling to build 
in the northwest, and those from that section unwilling to 
build four or fire miles distant at the village. 

There was a reorganization of this society the following 
winter, Feb. 14th, 1841, at the house of Deacon Granger, 
and the church was again recognized by a council convened 
at the school-house in Sodus Village, July 15th, 1841. The 
society had its regular place of meeting at the school-house 
near Frank Grangers. In this new society Deacon Vosburgh, 
Ephraim Teetor, and others of that neighborhood were in- 
terested, who before had been members at the Sodus Centre 
Church, and not of the West Church, The records do not 
show that this society disbanded by any formal vote. But 



39 

their last recorded covenant meeting was March 13tb, 1858, 
and the society ceased to meet soon after that. Elders 
Kinney, Forbes and Humphrey labored as ministers for this 
church later. 

The West Church, as a whole, existed six years in the 
Centenary neighborhood and seventeen years at the school- 
house north or the village. 

Chauncey Strong lived at Strong's Point on the Lake. He 
was from Sempronius, Cayuga County, and originally from 
Vermont. He came to Sodus in 1818, joined the baptist 
church by letter Sept. 5th of the same year; was dismissed 
to unite with the West Baptist Church in 1834, and soon 
after moved to Coldwater, Michigan, where he died. 

Beuben Graham was from Marcel] us, Onondaga County; 
came to Sodus in 1815 or 16; united with the Baptist 
Church of Sodus, and assisted in the organization of the 
West Church in 1834. He was afterwards licensed to preach 
by this church. Dismissed by letter to Michigan in 1. 838, 
having moved two or three years before. 



40 



CHAPTER IV. 

Methodist Churches. 

Elder Grerum, already mentioned as a local Methodist 
minister, settled in Sodus gig, early, perhaps, as 1806, on the 
farm n. w owned by Mrs. William Pitcher. He was probably 
the first minister of the Methodist Church in Sodus, and 
preached at various places in the neighborhood; though I 
can find little or nothing of his history except the bare facts 
as here given. 

In the southeast part of the town there were srnne fami- 
lies of Methodist sentiments among the few earliest settlers. 
Samuel Warren, grandfather of A. P. Warren, Esq , reached 
what is now South Sodus, with his family, in February, 
1808. He had made the long journey from New Hamp- 
shire with sleds, drawn by oxen. 

His Oldest son Elijah had received a collegiate education, 
and already licensed to preach. He held the first Methodist 
meetings in that section of the town; afterwards joined the 
annual conference, was appointed to this circuit, and traveled 
over this town and others in a "four- weeks'" course. 

Kev. Mr Groodtnough moved to Sodus in the year 1810 
and settled on the farm now owned by Philander Newell. 
He was very active in Christian work, holding meetings in 
his own house and with many other families. 

The earliest prayer and class meetings seem to have been 
held at the house of John Reed, j'ist south of where Clement 
Harvey now lives. This was probably in 1807 or 1808. 
Circuit preaching was pretty regular at the house of Mr. 
Uoodenough until about the year 1822, when it was changed 
to the house of Thomas Boyd, the father of John A. and 
Reuben Boyd. His farm was the one now owned by Ashley 
and Harwooi Sergeant, on the old Geneva road. These 
three families, Rted, Grooden«»ugh and Boyd, were the pioneer 
piact -s of Methodist meetings in all thai section of the town. 



41 

On the Geneva road, and near it, in 18 L2 and perhaps 
earlier, there were other families of Methodists; Abner Arms, 
a younger brother of Daniel Arms; Joseph Phelps and Mr 
Armsbury. Thomas Boyd was class leader for several years 
before his death, which occurred in 1828. Meetings were 
still held at that house for some years after. Matthew 
Kitchen and James Sergeant were leaders while the class 
still met at Mr. Boyd's. Unfortunately the class papers o** 
these early times have not been preserved; no written list 
of members remain, and the historian must depend on the 
memory of the few early Pioneers who are left, and in many 
cases on what the children have heard their fathers say. I 
am indebted for many of these items to Mrs. Warren, Mrs. 
Butler and J . H. Lamson of South Sodus; to Mrs. Wm. 
Swales, daughter of Matthew Kitchen; to Charles Field, and 
especially to Mrs. Uriah Seymour, eldest daughter of Mrs. 
Thomas Boyd, born in Sodus in 1806, and very clear in her 
recollection of dates. Herself a member of the Methodist 
Church for nearly half a century, she is able to relate man}' 
incidents she saw and describe early meetings at which she 
was present. Circuit riders preaching at Mr. Boyd's were 
Mr. Sabin, Fluestis, Killpatrick, Buck, Tompkinson and 
others. 

In 1811 or 1812, Rev. Elijah Warrenor iiev. George Dins- 
more, or perhaps both, held a series of revival meetings at 
the house of Elisha Granger, where Elliot IS orris now lives. 
At this meeting there were several conversions; among them 
Mark Johnson, who became a Methodist minister, and went 
every where through this section, preaching the Gospel. 

It is thought probable by relatives of the family, that 
Elisha Granger, senior, of Phelp. , assisted in these meet 
ings, and occasionally preached at other times in Sodus. 
He was one of the Pioneers of the town of Phelps, brother 
of Gideon Granger of Canandaigua, and is reported to have 
preached the firet sermon west of Cayuga Lake, at a funeial. 
in 1791 or 92. 

The first class formed at South Sodus was in 1824, with 
John Dimond or Jenks Pullen leader. Rev. Mr. Sabin and 
Mr. Kent were then preaching on Sodus Circuit, and this 
Circuit included Sodus, Clifton Springs, Vienna, Newark 
and Lyons. During these early years Quarterly meetings 
were mostly held in barns; at the barn of Jenks Pullen, 
South Sodus; of brother Gray, south-east of South Sodus; 
of Mark Johnson, and of Enoch Morse on the present place 
of Andrus Whitbeck. Next in order to these unwritten 
reminiscences gathered from various sources, we notice the 



42 

earliest written records, now in possession of the Methodist 
Church in this town. They extend back only to 1828, but 
from that time down are quite lull and interesting. 

The first Quarterly Conference for the Sodus Cirouit 
recorded, was held at the Baptist meeting house, Sept. 27th, 
1 828. There were present, Abner Chase Presiding Eider; 
Wiliiam Jones, Circuit Preacher; Mark Johnson, and 
Willi*rn Jewett, Local Preachers; Jeremiah Case and New- 
land Sampson, extorters: John Dimond, Israel Davis, 
Jacob Andrews, David Harvey and Lewis Morris, class 
leaders; Levi Van Auken and Jenks Pullen, stewards. 

Jenks Pullen was elected Secretary of the Conference, 
and the Stewards appointed tor the following year were, 
Samuel L. Morse, Wm. Morris and Benjamin Blanchard. 

There were received from the classes at that time, $10.75; 
public collection, $6.79; total, $17,54. Paid Presiding 
Elder, $3.00; Circuit preacher, $13.79; sacramental ex 
penses 75 cents, and so the books were evidently balanced 
on the sp<>t. 

From thi* time, the Quarterly meetings for several years 
were held at the Baptist meeting hou ; e, Sodus Centre; at 
the Episcopal and Presbyterian houses at the Ridge; at the 
; 'old camp ground" a little west of the present residence of 
Edward Filkins; and occasionally still in barns. Camp 
meetings were also held at the termination of the regular 
u Ridge" just south of the Simmons' Corners. 

The resolution to build at South Sodus was passed Dec. 
1st, 1832, and the building committee were, Gabriel Rogers, 
Newland Sampson, Jacob H. (Sridley, John Butler and 
Matthew Pullen. Earlier than this a committee on Parson- 
age hnd been appointed, but no site secured at that time. 
The meeting house was built in 1834 and 5. It was dedi- 
cated July 4th. 1836 and the sermon was preached by the 
Rev. Mr. Hibbard, uncle of the present Presiding Elder. 
The house cost about $2,500; the land for the site was 
given by Jacob H. Gridley Rev Joseph Tomkinson then 
upon the circuit, was ver\ active in urging forward the 
building. The first Quarterly Conference stated in the 
records as having met in this house, was Dec 5th, 1835; 
described as the stone meeting house at .Rogers' Corners." 
There were present at this conference, Robert Burch, Pre- 
siding Elder; Joseph Chapman, preacher in charge; Pearce 
Granger, Asahel Aldrich, Samuel Hopkins, Newland Samp- 
son Warner Sampson and Joseph Killpatrick, local 
preacheis: Hiram Allen. Orson Abbott, Jacob Andiews 
Samuel Baker, John Dimond, Jacob H. Gridley and James 



43 

Vokes, extorters; John Allen, John Butler, Charles Field, 
Jesse Lyman, Samuel L Morse, Michael Tinklepaugh and 
Stephen White, stewards; Hiram Allen, Samu 1 Baker, 
Simeon J. Barrett, Charles Field, Stephen Hopkins, William 
F. Leonard, Samuel L. Morse, Lewis Morris, Merrill Pease, 
Matthew Pullen, James Seigeant, Cornelius Shaw, David 
Smith and Michael Tinklepaugh, claps leaders. 

This Conference represented considerable territory outside 
of the limits of Sodus, extending to Lock Berlin, Rose and 
Fairville. Samuel L. Morse was chosen delegate to a 
Steward's Convention; John Dimond and Asahel Aldrich 
to keep the doors at Love Feast. 

Returning to a few items in the records, we notice that in 
1S32 at the Quarterly Conference it was resolved; That we 
use our influence to establish Sunday Schools and Bible 
classes. This was about the time when the Sunday School 
work was being entered upon by all the chuiciies in town. 

Feb 16th, 1833, the Quarterly Conference took the follow- 
ing action on the subject of Temperance: Resolved, That 
we will give no spirituous liquors to any person or persons 
in our employ, or vend or sell to any person whatever, nor 
drink any ourselves, except in cases of extreme necessity. 

Resolved, That the above resolution does not excuse us 
from joining a Temperance Society. 

This last resolution may seem of little consequence com- 
pared with the grand pledge ot the first but it was really 
an imperative summons to work through temperance socie- 
ties outside of the church, and is a sharp reply from the old 
records to those who say , "our church is a good enough 
temperance society, and we will join no other. 

The new house at South Sodus was built in 1871 and 
dedicated Sept. 27th, of that year; sermon by Bishop Pe?k, 
of Syracuse. It cost, with the fixtures and Parsonage, about 
$12J000. To raise this amount three man give $1,000 each. 
and several others very large sums. 

Methodist meetings "on Morse Hill" commenced with the 
conversion of Samuel Morse in 1827 or 8, and were main- 
tained for years as one of the important points in town. 

While thess movements were taking place in the eastern 
and southern parts of the town from 1828 to 1840. the 
north-west part was settling with familiBs from England. 
Many of the older Pioneers, Buys, Bennett, Smith, Gra- 
ham, Strong, Frazier, Sweet and others of Baptist and 
Presbyterian sentiments, moved away. These iamilies 
coming to that neighborhood during the period named were 
mostly Methodists, 




44 

RevT^J^vioT Gates settled just north of the stone school 
house in June, 1830. H • was born in Yo kshire, England, 
in 1789; obtained by his own exertions a liberal education; 
was for ma r, .y years a successful teacher and also a Metho- 
dist minister for twelve or fourteen years before coming to 
this country The change from the beautifu 1 scenery of 
an English village, and from his pleasant educational work 
to the dark and gloomy hemlock forests of Sodus was very 
great. Had he lived, he would probably hav< j joined the 
Annual Conference, and devoted himself to the work of the 
ministry; or perhaps accepted a clerkship in the land office 
ot the Pultney estate, a business position for which he was 
well fitted; in fact an agent ol the estate came to Sodus 
to engage his services, but his life work was already ended 
for he died in Sept. of the same year he came. Yet, in that 
brie' summer forty-six years ago he planted the Wesbyan 
faith and kindled it ; altar fires in the "old stone school 
house " He opened the first meeting, preached the first 
sermon and induced the Rev. Joseph m ompkinson to make 
that point one of his fixed circuit appointments.. The class 
formed then, or not lonj,' after, was the foundation of the pre- 
sent Centenary Church. Gates, Yokes, Wride and Hanby 
are some of the names of this early class, though if there were 
any written records they are long since lost. Gowthorp, 
Selby and Pierce though afterwards associated in the Meth- 
odist work were at that time members of the West Baptist 
church and remained so until its dissolution in 1840. 

It is probable this class resemh'ed the classes formed by 
Mr. Wesley in England and approximated to the primitive 
type of English Methodism more closely than any other in 
this section. One of the members and perhaps others have 
heard Mr. -Lesley preach and all of them were fresh from 
the scenes of of his trials and his triumphs. Mr. Wride, 
father of Robert Wride, had once walked twenty miles and 
back to hear Mr. Wesley preach three sermons in one day. 
Many of us then young still remember with interest the ven- 
erable forms of Mr. Wride and Mr. Hanby, father, of Charles 
Hanby, d r essed in the old style, suits of clothes that hunters 
after Centennial relics might well prize. During this per- 
iod betore 1839, Rev. Messrs Chapman. Harrington, Tomp- 
kinso'i and Osborne preached in the school house once in 
two weeks. Mr. Chapman, father of Mrs Oren Danford, 
as he visits this town now after the lapse of forty years 
may well feel a commendable pride in the success of the in- 
stitutions of the Gospel, which he toiled in early life to es- 
tablish/ These operations in the Northwest were transferee! 



45 

about the year 1839 to the next District so-ith. Preaching 
was commenced at the hou^e of Mr. Baker on the farm n w 
owned by Geore? Middleton ; sometimes it was at the house 
of Robert Wride next west or that of Ellathan Baker further 
west. A meeting to effect an organization was held at the 
house of Ellathan Baker Feb. 25th, 1840; Rev. J V. Mapes 
moderator, JohnR. Willard secretary ; first trustees chosen, 
Robert Howcroft, Charles Hanby and Ellathan Baker. 
Land was bought of Richard Selby and the erection of the 
old Centenary meeting house soon followed, being built in 
1840. The house cost only about $200 in money ; the 
rest was all given in labor and materials. E. W. Sentell 
had promised to saw all the lumber they might need. Ac- 
eordingly one fine day, he was somewhat astonished to see 
coming over the hills in solid column forty teams with forty 
logs ; but he met the charge gallantly and redeemed his 
promise generously. The old house was built by James 
Craver and the sermon at the Dedication was by Rev. 
W. H. Goodwin. The old chapel moved a little west, was 
remodeled into a very neat Lodge Room, and has' been oc- 
cupied by the Good Templars for seven years. 

No notice of Methodist work in the Centenary neighbor- 
hood can be completed without remembering the labors of 
Rev. George Baxter. Coming here in 1843, an English 
Methodist, he has preached for a longer period in the same 
place than any minister of any denomination in Sodus, 
unless it be Elder Norton, of pioneer memory. Walking 
in all the ordinances of the Lords house blameless, for more 
than thirty years, Mr Baxter and wife won the regard o** 
community by the purity of their life, the sincerity of their 
faith, the ardor of their devotion and the generous liberalty 
of their disposition. Few ministers of any denomination 
have entered Sodus as thoroughly educated as Mr. Baxter, 
and none have given more conscientious careful study to the 
sacred word than he. Familiar with Latin, Greek and 
Hebrew, he had that freshness of illustration , that clearness 
of explanation that can seldom be obtained except by read- 
ing the Bible in the very languages in which it was written. 
Regardless of wealth or fame, he has lived among his books 
and his friends, content to preach Jesus Christ and him 
crucified. 

The love and esteem of hundreds, limited by no lines of 
faith or creed, follow them across the ocean, as they go tn 
breathe once more in the land of their childhood the fra- 
grance of the hawthorn, and hear again the song of English 
birds along the blooming hedges. 



46 

With nhurch influences settlhio- to a common point at 
South Sodus, and also at the Centenary, it became necessary 
for Methodists in the south part of the town and the north- 
east to study for the future. The first design was to build 
at the Johnson Corners; a subscription for that purpose was 
raised, a buildins: committee appointed and directed to pro- 
ceed with the work, but a far wiser policy finally prevailed. 
Men with clear foresight of the coming future believed it to 
be necessary to concentrate on the Ridge Sufficient argu- 
ment and perseverance finally brought others to the same 
view, and the Methodist Church of this village, the third in 
town, came into existence. It was firmed by a union of the 
class at SenteU's Mills and that of the Johnson Corners. 
They worshipped for a time in a vacant store, but on the 
3d of September, 1840, broke ground for the present house. 
It was a long struggle. It cost money, time, patience, per 
aeveranc ; but energy and determination triumphed Only 
the basement was completed by the fall of 1841. The first 
meeting was held in it Christmas eve of that year. The 
house was left in this unfinished condition for several years, 
and was not dedicated until 1846. Rev. Mr. Puffer, the 
celebrated " chapter and verse" man, preached the sermon, 
though Rev. W. H. Groodwin, who was expected, arrived in 
time to preach in the evening. The wisdom of the move- 
ment to build here has been amply justified by the success 
of the Society, and is the more striking and noteworthy as 
we recall the fact that when the proposition to organize here 
was first made, Mrs. John C. Miller was about the only 
Methodist in the village, and even down to 1838 and 9, there 
were only added the family of M. N. Barclay and Mr, Bull, 
who afterwards became a Methodist minister. But in 1840 
John C Miller, S. W. Hollister, and others united with the 
church; the movement assumed greater strength and having 
secured the co-operation of the strong force at the south be- 
came a success. From the first, those at the northeast, E. 
W. Sentell, Charles Field and others, had desired to build 
at this village. The trustees elected at the first meeting, 
J u.ne 8th, 1838, were Edward W. Sentell, Milton N. Bar- 
clay, John Warner, Michael Tmklepaugh and Stephen 
White. Mr. Barclay was clerk of the Board. Riley Belden 
was chairman of the annual meeting of 1839. That year a 
subscription was raised towards building a house, amounting 
to $2,195. 

The certificate of incorporation was attested by Jonathan 
Huestis, moderator of the first meeting, and by Loren Ben- 
nett, secretary; verified before Judge Sisson and recorded 



47 

Jiine 26th, 1838. Owing to some infoi niality, it was 
thought best to effect a second organization and filed a new 
certificate. This was done "Dec. 3d, 1849. Wm. H, Ward 
and Charles Field were appointed inspectots of election; 
Bryan Stanton, S. W. Hollister, John C. Miller, G-amahVl 
Case and E. W, Sentell were chosen trustees. 

The Methodist Society of Sodus Point, the fourth in 
town, was organized as a branch of the Sodus Village church 
Feb. 14th, 1 371. The first trustees were DeForest McNett, 
John N. Wood, William Buys, E. W. Sentell and John 
Preston. Mr. McNett was appointed clerk Mr. Wood 
treasurer, and John Preston class leader 

By authority of the Annual Conference of 187l ; a sepa- 
rate organization was made, with William E. Buys and 
Stephen Tinklepaugh class-leaders They were also elected 
stewards, together with William Rayner, Bobert Scott and 
Philander Lyman. 

This Society has a very fine house of worship, erected in 
1871 and 2, at a cost of $4,000. Charles Hill was the 
builder, and the house was dedicated July 17th. 1872. 

Special notices of some of those whose names are upon 
these early records, down to the conference of 1835: 

Rev. Elijah Warren removed to Michigan, and continued 
in the ministry for many years. He was a close observer of 
public affairs, a good judge of men and, withal, quite a 
prophet. In 1848 or 9, in a conversation with younger 
members of the family from this State, he predicted the 
great financial crash of 1857 and the war of the rebellion, 
and was not much mistaken as to the time when the)' 
occurred. It may be well to remember that he also pre- 
dicted a great struggle for religious freedom on this conti- 
nent, an event yet to come. 

John Reed's house, as already shown, has the honor of 
being the first place of Methodist meetings in town. He 
was the grandfather of Mr. Beed, living beyond Alton, a 
prominent member of the Protestant Methodist Church. 

Thomas Boyd was born in Maryland, at Newmarket, 
Montgomery county, July 10th, 1781. He came to Sodus 
in 1801 or 2 and joined his father and brother, who had 
already been settled for two years or more ou Salmon Creek, 
where Oscar Sergeant now lives. In 1815 or 16 he married 
Mrs. Polly Johnson, widow of Ichabod Johnson, and soon 
after bought the farm on the Geneva road, where the 
brothers Ashley and Harwood Sergeant now reside, but did 
not build and move there until 1823. From that time until 
his death in 1828, and for several years after, his house was 



48 

the home >f the early Methodist ministers, arid one of the 
regular preaching places upon the circuit. 

Rev. Mr Goodcnough moved from his first place tit 

Ne well's Mills to Sodus Centre, and in 1827 or 8 to Canada. 

o'oseph Phelps lived where Charles Hollinbeck now resides. 

He had something of a nursery, and Charles Field has a 

peach tree, still bearing, that he bought of him. 

Mr Armsbury was a brother-in-law of Daniel Arms. 
Matthew Kitchen came to Sodus from England in June, 
1818, and settled on the old Geneva road. Dr. Lawson, an 
early resident of Sodus for a few years, crossed the ocean in 
the same ship with him. Mrs. Kitchen was already a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church in England, and her husband 
united with the class at Mr. Boyd's in a few years after 
coming here; he was a class-leader in 1828 or 9 He died 
Jan. 3d, 1 866. 

James Sergeant is one of ,the large family of brothers and 
sisters, whose father came to Sodus from Boston, Mass., in 
1800. and after boarding a while at Mr. Pollock's, settled on 
the farm afterwards owned by Matthew Kitchen, and whose 
descendants are thickly scattered over all the northern and 
eastern parts of the town. James Sergeant disputes, with 
one or two others, the claim of being the first, child born in 
Sodus after the settlement* He was a class-leader while 
meetings w T ere held at Mr. Boyd's. He is still living and 
can relate many anecdotes of the rough pioneer times of his 
boyhocd. 

Rev. Joseph Tomhinsov, was born in Staffordshire, Eng- 
land. He heard Mr. Wesley preach in his boyhood, and 
experienced religion at the age of twelve. Six years later, 
when only eighteen years of age, he was licensed to preach, 
entered immediately upon the work, and labored in England 
twenty-seven years, He came to this country in the fall of 
1828 and settled west of Pultnsyville, opposite the present 
place of George Waters; but not long afterwards moved to 
the farm now occupied by one of his sons, a mile east of 
Pultneyville. He brought letters of introduction from Dr. 
Adam Clarke and Dr Newton, joined the old Genesee Con- 
ference and was appointed, with Rev. Seth Mattison, to the 
Walworth Circuit, which included the west part of Sodus, 
for the conference year 1829 and 30; he afterwards preached 
one year at Palmyra, one year at Lyons and two years on 
Sodus Circuit— first with Rev. Mr. Grandin and next with 
Rev. Asa Aldrich. He was largely instrumental in securing 
the building of the stone meeting house at South Sodus. 
This was his last charge, as he died in 1835, at the age of 



49 

fifty-one; he was a man of devout piety, and his lite was full 
of active Christian work. He was withal modest and unas- 
suming, and in his last sickness expressed a desire that no 
words of eulogy should be pronounced over him. He left 
six sons, two of whom are Methodist preachers. 

Bev. Mark Johnson was born in New Marlborough, Berk- 
shire Co., Mass., March 20th, 1781. He came to Pompey, 
Onondaga Co., with his father's family at an early day. 
There he married about the year 1804 and came to Sodu^ in 
1805 or 6; he settled on the farm, well known at the Cor- 
ners bearing his name; his first house was southeast from 
the present corner towards the Qreek, near a large button- 
wood tree. Eev. Elijah Warren in 1810 or 11, in the course 
of his circuit traveling, called at the house and secured from 
Mrs. Johnson a promise that she would pray for herself 
every day for three weeks, and he would also pray for her. 
This resulted in her conversion, and in the revival that soon 
after occurred, Mr, Johnson himself was converted, and im 
mediately felt an earnest desire to preach the Gospel, a feel- 
ing so strong that it seemed nothing less than the call <>f 
God. In 1816 he was licensed as an exhorter and soon after 
as a local preacher. In 1823 he was admitted to the travel - 
ing connection, and filled appointments to Canisteo Circuit 
and to Victory; but his health declining, he returned to his 
useful work as a local minister in his own town. Here his 
abundant labors were blessed in laying the founditi* n of 
future churches, and bringing individual lives under the 
power of the Gospel. During a period of seventeen years 
he preached scores of funeral sermons. He died June 3d, 
1833; his funeral was very largely attended, and deep feeling 
was manifested, especially by the colored people from Sodus 
Point, to whom he had often preached and for whom he had 
many times buried their dead. 

John Dimond was a merchant at South Sodus. He came 
from Albany, was licensed as an exhorter, removed to Michi- 
gan and died there., 

Jenks Pullen came from Phelps in 1807, and settled on 
the farm now owned by Abram Shaw at South Sodus. He 
was an early town officer, and a magistrate by appointment 
for many years. He removed to Michigan and died there. 

Bev. Abner Chase, present at the Conference of 1828, was 
the well known presiding elder. 

Bev. William Jones was popularly known as "Billy 
Jones/' and quite celebrated. He was from the town of 
Lyons. He is still living at Canandaigua, in the feebleness 
of old age, calmly waiting the end of a long and useful life. 



50 

William Jewett lived in York Settlement, Huron. He 
was for many years an exhorter and a local preacher, ami 
then a traveling minister. He returned to his early home 
and died there. 

Jeremiah Case lived at Sodus Centre, on the farm of the 
late John F. Proseus, aid owned the Reynolds' Grist Milt. 
Ee was licensed as an exhorter before 1828, was a prominent 
citizen and an active supporter of the early church move- 
ments. 

The brothers Newland and Warner Sampson lived near 
the Pre-emption school house. They afterwards removed to 
Hillsdale, Mich. 

David Harvey was an early class leader and lived on the 
place now owned by David Pulver. He was known among 
his acquaintancBS as "Bub" Harvey. 

Lewis Morris and William Morris were from the town of 
Rose, connected with Sodus circuit. 

Levi VanAuhen lived on the farm now owned by George 
Sooker. 

Mattkew Pullen was* a son of Jenks Pullen and with his 
father led the singing at South Sodus for many years. 

Rev Asahel Aldrich was a preacher at South Sodus. It 
is supposed he came to this town from Rushville. He be- 
came a t ravelins; preacher for a time in connection with the 
Black River Conference. He died at South Sodus 
May 26, 1853. 

John Butler was born in Maine 1787, came to Sodus in 
1814, settled on the farm now owned by Wm. Miles. He 
married, in 1815, Elizabeth Lemmon. He died in 1869. 
His wife is still living at South Sodus, one of the few who 
can assist the Historian by relating events of her own per- 
sonal knowledge in the early part of this century. 

Jacob H. Gridley came from Dutchess county about 1828 
and purchased the tarm of Jenks Pullen; he gave the site 
for the stone meeting house, was a member of the building 
committee, and licensed as an exhorter; he died about the 
year 1851. 

James Vohes was an English Methodist from the North- 
west part of the town; he lived on Strong's Point. 

John Allen and Hiram Allen lived or the Allen Hill, 
south of Sodus Centre. 

Gabriel Rogers, came to South Sodus from Lyons; he was 
a member of the building committee that erected the stone 
meeting house; was the father of ex- Sheriff Rogers and 
other well known sons; an active supporter of the church 
and a prominent citizen; he died Aug. 4th 1847. 



51 

Rev. Wilson Osband was on the Walworth and Pultney- 
ville Circuit in 1838-9 and preached in the western part of 
Sodus. He was born in Tiverton, Rhode Island, Jan. 11th 
1791; his parents came to Palmyra the same year. He was 
married Dec. 28th, 1815; his conversion occurred in 1817, 
and he was one of the first Meth Delists in Palmyra. He be- 
came a local preacher as early as 1825 or 6; he died at 
Newark March 27th, 1855. 

Rev. Joseph Killpatrick was a local preacher of consider- 
able repute; he also entered the itinerancy. 

Jacob Andrews lived where Porter Butts now resides. 
His father came to Sodus at a very early day and built a 
saw-mill on Salmon Creek, north of Sodus Centre, near the 
Wilson farm, now owned by Charles Tinklepaugh. 

Samuel L. Morse lived on the beautiful hill that bears his 
name in the west part of the town. After his conversion he 
was active and earnest in Christian work, and ''Morse Hilr" 
was lor many years a fixed appointment. 

Samuel Baker was his near neighbor, living on the farm 
n:w owned by Mr. Pynchon. % 

William F. Leonard was the early merchant of Alton. 
Cornelius Shaw came to South Sodus in 1827; he died 
July 8th ; 1844. 

Stephen Hopkins was the father of Wm. and Townley 
Hopkins and lived near James Sergeant. 

Michael Tinklepaugh, class ,■ leader and steward, was one 
of the three brothers whose descendants are in all parts of 
the town ; he lived on the farm until recently occupied by 
his son Charles Tinklepaugh, on the road to Sodus Centre. 
Stephen White, now residing at Sodus Point, was one of 
the founders of the Methodist church of Sodus village, liv- 
ing then near the Johnson Corners; he was a steward as ear- 
ly as the Quarterly Conference of 1835 and one of the first 
trustees at the viilage. 

Pierce Granger was one of the family connection that fix- 
ed the name of u Grange'rs Settlen ent" to the south part of 
the town; he lived south-west of Joy on the Maple Ridge road. 
Orson Abbot was a tin smith with Clement Hughson at 
the village. 

Charles Field has lived in Sodus sixty years; his 
recollections of pioneer life, as well as his personal history, 
would be ample for an extended notice in a general history 
of the town. A member of the Methodist church for forty- 
four years or more, he has been a steward or class leader or 
both for a large part of the time. 

This sketch of individuals already includes some who are 



52 

still living amoiii us, and c;oiiie^ down much later than M. 
first intended. There are several others that might be al- 
luded to, out they are men in active life, still impressing 
their influence upon the community, and stiil making his- 
tory tor some future writer to record. 

The deafen of Milton N. Barclay, class leader at this 
village, was a severe b ow to the little band that was strug- 
gling for an existence in the years before the union of I tic 
northeast and south was secured. 

In the death of Stephen W. HolHster in 1856, the church 
lost ore of its most active supporters, one of its most tin 
flinching friends; his purity of life and his Christian faith 
male evident by his daily walk aud conversation, were an 
invaluable treasure to the church, and secured for him a 
high place in the affections and the memory of the 
community. 

Rev. Joseph Chapman was born in Fairfield County, Con- 
necticut, Parish of Green Firms, Oct. 5th, 180-1. His 
mother was of ah Episcopal! in family; her name, Eleanor 
Buckley, ^he died before he was five years old, but he well 
remembers the death scene, and how she had already taught 
him the simple prayers of childhood, "Now I lay me," and 
"Our Father" Mr. Chapman had little opportunity for 
education in his youth. He was married to Frances Wash- 
burn, in Peekskill, Westchester County, N. Y\, April 8th, 
1823. From there he came to Geneva, Oct. 1830, and the 
following winter to Elmira. There he was licensed to 
preach JSov. 5th, 1831, recommended to the Annual Confer- 
ence June 24th, 1832, and received his first appointment to 
Troopsburgh Circuit. This included ybwr£ee?i towns. Here, 
in fiiteeu mouths, he traveled 3,000 miles, preached 308 
times, and received in all for support $193.17. He was or- 
dained deacon at the Brockport Conference, 1834, and elder 
at the Canaudaigua Conference, 1836. He continued in the 
regalar work for thirty-five years, on twenty different charges, 
tie now re-ides at Newark. \ 

The following list of Methodist ministers is doubtless im- 
perfect, but it is the best the writer could prepare after con- 
sulting the records here and corresponding with Presiding 
Elder Hibbard, with Rev. John Dennis, Rev Joseph Chap- 
man and with B. B. Spooner of Milo, Yaies County The 
list is made out on the fcheoirj that from 1816* to 1827 Sodus 
was a part of Ontario Circuit. This may or may not be 
correct, it is the opinion of Charles Fiekl who is a good 
judge of Metliodist early history, that the theory is true. 
From 1849 those appointed to Sodus Village, only are 



53 



given. The years designate 
commencement of the terms 
1813 Zenas Jones, 

Ebenezer Doolittle, 
Joshua Rogers. 
Joshua McOreary, 
Ebenezer Doolittle 
Ebenezer Doolittle ? 
Alba Beckwith, 
J. H. Harris, 
William Snow, 

i820 {sts ight ' 

Thomas Wright, 
William Snow, 
Joseph Gardner, 
Palmer Roberts, 
D. Smith, 
Palmer Roberts, 
D. Smith 
Benjamin Sabin, 
Robert Parker, 
Richard Wright, 
William Jones, 
Richard Wright, 
William J. Kent, 
William Jones, 



1814 
1815 
1816 
1817 

1818 

1819 



1821 

1822 j 

1823 i 

1824 
1825 
1826 
1827 



1828 
1829 
1830 
1831 



Zina J. iiuck, 



1832 i J° se P n Tompkins n 
\ Mr Grandin 
j Joseph Tompkinson 

1834 



1833 



Asa Aldrich, 



mm cabin, 
n O^band, 



C Benjar 

I Wihoi 
Joseph Chapman, 
Joseph Chapman, 
SiasBolles, 
Jonathan Hues iis, 
Loren Bennett, 
loqo f Ransley Harrington, 

( Sias Bolles, 

' Ransley Harrington, 
Oclavius Mason, 



1835 
1836 

1837 



1839 



1840 






the annual conferences and the 
of service: 

'etavius Mason. 
B. Pickard, 
iqai i Jose|)h Pearsall, 
10411 I I. J. B. McKinney, 

1842 J * ^ ^* McKinney,. 

George Wilkinson, 

John Shaw, 

John Glass, 
1844 j J° nn Shaw, 

J Thomas Stacey, 
toak j Thomas Stacey, 

| Joseph K. Tinkham, 
1846 Jonathan Benson, 

Jonathan Benson, 

Augustus C. George, 

Martin Wheeler, 

John Kane, 

John Robinson, 

John Kane, 

S. B. Roonev, 



1843 



1847 1 

1848 
1849 



1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
.854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
l c 59 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
[870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 



Mr Oongdon, 
John Spinks, 

Mr. Wilson, 

it a 

D. Lieseming, 

J. G. Dubois, 
George Havens, 

A. T. Giles, 

Ci ('. 

John liandreth, 
A. Baker, 

M. S. Leet, 

k u 

u u 

0. L. Bowne, 

t'i tC 

F. M. Warner, 



J 



ay no 



54 



CHAPTER V. 



Episcopal Church. 



There are no written records of services by clergymen of 
the Episcopal Church in this town before the organization 
of St. John's Parish in 1826, nor of any general missionary 
work before that time 

Many persons, whose family recollections might supply 
the deficiency are in distant State 3. and the author has not 
succeeded in obtaining letters from them. But those who 
finally took part in the formation of a society were many of 
them very early residents, extending back to 1810, and in 
some cases to nearly 1800. It is not provable that they 
passed the. first quarter of this century, without at "least oc- 
casional services of their own faith and order. 

They belonged to some of the oldest families in the land, 
families with a history reaching back to the war of the re- 
volution, and illustrious in honorable, patriotic service. 

Their acquaintance and influence -oust have brought to 
this section frequent visits of early missionaries, 

Rev. Davenport Phelps was in Wayne County quite 
early. He was the father of the Phelps brothers, residing 
at Pnltneyville and of Mrs. B.C. Fitzhugh for many years 
of Sodus Point. 

It is supposed that he frequently made a circuit from 
Geneva, via Lyons and Sodus Point, to Pultneyville and 
Oanarfdaigua; preaching, administering the sacraments of 
the church, and preserving in scattered families of Episco- 
palians a love for the ancient faith, that finally resulted iu 
organizations and regular services. At the first burial in 
Canandaigua in 1790, the Episcopal service was read by the 
physician, Dr. Adams of Geneva. St. Matthews Church of 
Canandaigua was organized Feb. 4ch, 1799; Rev. Philander 
Chase presided at the first meeting and officiated as clergy- 
man for several months. 



m 

St. Joli./s Church it Clifton Springs was organized by 
Rev. DavenpDrt Phelps in 1807. The, Episcopal Church of 
Geneva in 1806, John Nicholas presiding in the absence of 
a rector. Rev. Mr. Phelps became the first officiating min- 
ister at Geneva. He was succeeded by Rev. Orrin Clark, 
who preached for several years, and came through Sodus and 
adjoining towns occasionally as Mr. Phelps bad done. Mr. 
Clark died in 1828 

These facts show that the services of the Episcopal 
Church were established in Ontario County nearly as early 
as those of any other denomination. Indeed the burial ser- 
vice, read by a layman in Canandaigua, was about the same 
time as the first sermon by the Methodist, Elisha Granger, 
in Ph'dps, and may possibly dispute with that the claim to 
be the first religious service west of Cayuga Lake. 

The first parochial meeting in Sodus was held at the old 
brick school-hj >use June 25! h, 1826. It seems to have been 
a preliminary meeting for consultation. At the next meet- 
ing, August 26th of the same year, a society was formed 
under the name of "St. John's Church, Sodus fridge." 
Rev. John A. Clark presided at this meeting, and Dr. Henry 
Jones was cierk. Thomas Wickham and Rlijah McKmney 
were elected wardens, and the vestrymen chosen were Elisha 
Mather, Oren Gaylord, iienrj' Jones, Bennett C. Fitzhugh, 
John O. Bryan, Joseph Williams, Wm. Dolioway and Wm. 
N. Lummis. 

The certificate of incorporation was acknowledged before 
Judge Hailett, and recorded in the County Clerk's office 
Aug. 20th, 1826. 

Sept. L8th 1826 the church was visited by Bishop On- 
derdonk. and the society made a prompt and vigorous begin- 
ning at the work before them. They had already raised a 
subscription sufficient to undertake the erection of a house 
of worship, and the c<>rner-stone*of the present edifice was 
laid, with Masonic rites, on the 26th of the s:me month. 
During these three months thirty children were baptized and 
one adult, and len were confirmed. rn he first celebration of 
the Holy Communion was Oct 8th, 1826. by the Rev. Wm. 
Hocox of Canandaigua. This was an era of great interest 
to the families of Episcopal sentiments who cherished a love 
for the forms and the faith of their early childhood. Eagerly 
they availed themselves of the sacraments of the church, 
brought their children to be cons, crated to God in baptism, 
received the rite of confirmation and celebrated the com- 
munion The sacred words which confessors and martyrs 
had poured forth in prayer in other lands and other times, 



56 

and the faith that had sustained them as they went joyfully 
to prison and to the stake, were as full of comfort here as 
elsewhere. And the ritual of ?his historic church rose to 
heaven from the dark forests of Sod us, and from an unfinish- 
ed chapel, as sincerely and as acceptably as when rolled 
forth in ancient cathedrals beneath vaulted ceilings, amid 
the pealing of chimes and the chanting of choirs. 

The vestry organized with Henry Jones clerk, Thomas 
Wickham treasurer, and Oren Gaylord collector. 

The subscription list is still preserved which provided for 
the building of the house. It is a venerable time-stained 
document fifty years old. It is endorsed " Subscription for 
an Episcopal meeting house," and reads as follows: 

"We the undersigned do engage to pay to the trustees of 
the Protestant Episcopal Society of;3odus, Wayne County, 
State of New York, the sums set opposite to our respective 
names, for the purpose of erecting a house of public worship 
on the Ridge in said town, to be appropriated forever for the 
use of the Protestant Episcopal Society of Sodus." Dated 
East Ridge, August 21st, 1826. 

Attached to this paper are the names of Thomas Wick- 
ham, $200; Wm Dolloway, $200; Elijah McKinney, $100; 
.Joseph Williams, $50; B. C Fitzhugh, $50; Wm. P. 
Irwin, $20; Wm. N. Lummis, $100 and Oren ©aylord 
$25. Besides these there is a long list of namss pledging 
smaller sums from one to ten dollars; men of all denomina- 
tions, and of no denomination, but interested in public 
improvements, and glad to assist any church. 

Among them, Ira Collins, George Palmer, Amasa John- 
son, Frederick Eggleston, Daniel Arms, Joshua Reed, Robt. 
A. Paddock, Benjamin Osburn, John Gibson, Elisha Bush- 
nell, Robert Kemp and many others. One subscription is 
entered, "A friend who desires his name not mentioned, 
one gold sovereign." A large number of these pledges were 
paid in materials and labor. The work was undertaken the! 
same year, the frame being raised Sept. 26th 1826. Oren 
Gayi >rd and Nathaniel Kellogg were the builders. The 
house was covered and enclosed, the floor laid and then 
opened for meetings. It remained in this unfinished condi- 
tion for several years, 

In the spring of 1833 additional subscriptions having been 
pledged, a contract was made with Lewis Sage and Israel 
Arms to finish the house. Even then it required time. 
patience and determination t > bring the work to completion. 
It was not dedicated until Sept 8th, 1834. Right Rev. 
Bishop nderdonk led the services of consecration. Before 






•57 

the erection of the house in 1826, Episcopal meetings were 
held at the school house in this village, and at the house of 
Thomas Wiokham, where Mrs. Garret G-urnee lately 
resided. The house of John Bryan in the northwest 
part of the town was also occasionally a place of meetings, 
th< j same house in which William Sergeant now resides, In 
fact it was at one time thought that that neighborhood 
would be a good central point to organize at and build. The 
families of Williams, Kemp, McKinney, 0. Bryan in ths 
north and several others near Pultneyville were conveniently 
settled for such a project, and a generous offer of land and 
other material was tendered by Mr. Bryan. The 
Bishop of the Diocese preached on one occasion in that 
neighborhood. The policy of concentrating at Sodus vil- 
lage, however prevailed, and was no doubt the wisest; 
Though several families in that section and toward Pultney- 
ville were unprovided for in the arrangement, and gradually 
removed from town or entered into membership with other 
churches. Meetings were also held before the house was 
built at Elijah McKinney's, and at the school house or in 
private houses at Sodus Point. At Pultneyville Episcopal 
services were held at the house of Samuel Ledyard and an 
organization was once made, as shown by the records at 
Lyons, under the na i e of "St. Paul's Church at Pultney- 
ville/' but it was sustained for only a brief period. 

The books of the Episcopal Church, from which a portion 
of this sketch is obtained, are neatly and carefully written, 
and are very complete and interesting; not extending: back 
into the early pioneer times, but from and after 1826, form- 
ing a valuable register of baptisms, marriages and deaths, 
more complete for the families of that congregation than any 
preserved by other societies. 

We give a few more items direct from the records: 

Aug. 20th, 1828, Rev. Reuben Hubbard presided at a 
parish m3eting, and Amos Case was elected warden, and 
Eiisha bushnell a member of the vestry. 

Samuel Clesson appears as clerk in 1832 Peter Proseus 
was elected warden in June, 1833, and at the same time 
David Proseus, Oren Gaylord, Wm Booer, James K. 
Richardson were chosen vestrymen. 

June 26th, 1833, Thomas Robinson and M. N. Tillotson 
vestrymen. 

Rev. E. Spaulding was rector in 1835 The Episcopal 
Church slnired w ; th other churches in the influence of the 
great revival work that marked the years 1831 and 2, in this 



58 

section. This is interred from the records which show twelve 
admitted by confirmation Aug. 25th, 1831, viz: 

Mrs. Hiram Mann, Mrs. Joseph Williams, Miss Lucy Ann 
Proseus, Catherine Louisa Proseus, Mary Jane McKinney, 
Henrietta Hoylartz, Sophia Hoylartz, Alfred Welch, Maria 
Vokes, Henry Phelps of Pultneyville, and Andrew Miller. 
It will have been noticed that quite a number of the 
Episcopal congregation were from Sodus Point. The fami- 
lies of Wickham, Lummis, Edwards, Fitzhugh and Dollo- 
way contributed to the erection of the house of worship and 
to the support of the church. But the inconvenient distance 
from Sodus village, and a desire to enlarge the work of the 
church finally led to a separate movement. At a business 
meeting called tor the purpose, and held May 3d, 1851, a 
legal organization was effected. B. C. Fitzhugh was mod- 
erator and the wardens elected were B. C. Fitzhugh and 
Wm. S. Malcolm. The vestrymen chosen were Wm. 
Edwards, Wm. P. Irwin, Wm. Preston, Wm Robinson, 
Charles B. Hallet, David Rogers and Eliada Pettit. The 
certificate was acknowledged before Hon Thomas A. John- 
son of the Supreme Court, an. I recorded Nov. 24th, 1851. 
The Society took the name of 6 \ Christ Church of Sodus 
Point." By the removal of many ot its early friends, this 
society has at times been greatly weakened, but with praise- 
worthy and persistent determination, the few succeeded in 
erecting a neat, convenient house of worship; and by uniting 
with the society at Sodus Village in support of the same 
clergyman have regularly maintained the services of the 
church. 

An organization has also been recently effected at Sodus 
Centre, under the name of " St. Luke's Church." The legal 
certificate has been perfected and recorded. A handsome 
corner lot, donated by Elisha Mather, Esq., forms a con- 
venient and valuable site for a future house of worship. 
Upon the east portio i of the lot a small chapel has been 
erected, sufficient for the present purposes of the society. 

The society at the village erected a convenient and pleas- 
ant parsonage on Smith street, in 1873, at an expense of 
$2,500. 

The clergymen who have officiated as Rectors of this 
church «luring the fifty years now passed since its organiza- 
tion are Rev. Messrs. Clark, Doll o way, Spaulding, Clark, 
Cadle, Salter, Batten, Smith, Lane and the present incum- 
bent, Rev Dr. Burke. 

Several of the earlier ones, and among the later, Rev. Mr. 
Smith, have passed to their reward on high. They are 



59 

remembered as men of piety, no less than of thorough liter- 
ary culture and gentle Christian courtesy. 

A few personal notices are added to those mentioned in 
connection with the establshment of this church: 

John 0. Bryan came from Canada, at or near Quebec, 
about the year 1815, and purchased the farm in northwest 
part of the town, which William Sergeant now owns. He 
lived in a shanty at first, on the east of the brook , where 
the old blacksmith shop stood a few years since. He did 
not at first remain here steadily, but after a year or so, 
brought his family and settled permanently. His wife, who 
was from Rome, Oneida County, died Dec. 18th, 1826, and 
her funeral, attendei by Rev. John < lark, was the first held 
in the Episcopal house. Mr. 0. Bryan afterwards married 
Matilda Snowdy, daughter of Mrs. Robrt Kemp. He died 
Nov. 6th, 1853. Mr. 0. Bryan's father was an Episcopal 
minister, and also quite a business man. He was murdered 
in the Chateaugay woods on his return from the sale of a 
drove of cattle. 

Robert Ktmp came from ^rgland to New York, where 
he married Mrs. John Snowdy. He then removed to Haver- 
straw. About the year 1821 ht came to Sodus and settled 
on the farm now owned by Joseph Wilkes. In 1837 he re- 
moved to Illinois and <<i< d about the year 1845. His widow 
still lives in Medina at the advanced age of eight y-five. 

Or en Gaylord was a brothei of Dr. Levi Gavlord, but 
came to Sodus somewhat earlier. I" is native State was 
Connecticut As early as 1811 or '12 he had joined in the 
tide of emigration flowing westward and settled in Otisco. 
Here he married the sister of Judge Byram Green about the 
year 1815, having become acquainted with with her at the 
house of her uncle residing in Otisco. He came to Sodus 
in 1818 or '19 and at first lived in the west one of the four 
log houses before described w; st of the village. The old 
house opposite he used for a wagon shop and it was destroy- 
ed by fire not Jong after. He afterwards bought and settled 
whare Adam Tinklepaugh now lives. The old apple trees 
in three or four village lots on that side of the street were 
set out by him His wife having died he married the widow 
of Dr. McKinney and lived two miles north of the village. 
His ancestors in Connecticut were all Episcopalians, and he 
was a zealous supporter of that church. He died at the 
house of his daughter, Mr. Andrews in Savannah, January 
27th, 1872. aged eighty -two years. 

TJwmas Wickham, was a broiher of Capt. Wickham of 
Sodus Point. He was an early merchrnt at th • Ridge ; 



GO 

afterwards removed to Geneva and died there. His wife is 
especially remembered by early residents here as a pious, 
devoted woman, full of faith and good works. She was an 
active supporter of the church and had readings at her house 
for its benefit. She is still living at Grand Rapids, Mich. 

Dr. Clesson came to the Rid^e ii>1830 or 31. Kept one 
of the hotels a short time. Was partially disabled by a 
stroke of paralysis; received an appointment to the Custom 
House at the port of Sodus Point; ;md afterwards returned 
to his early home in the Eastern States and died there. 

James K. Richardson was a lawyer, resident at the vil- 
lage for a few years. His house stood where the Methodist 
parsonage now stands. This house was sold, moved off the 
ground, and is now the house of Mrs. McCarty west of the 
village. 

William Dolloway lived at Sodus Point. I have no ac- 
count of his early life. He married for his second wife the 
sister of Mrs. Uriah Seymour. He contributed largely 
towards the erection of the Episcopal House He after- 
wards removed to Oswego and died there. A daughter .has 
within a few years entered the Sisterhood of the Episcopal 
Church 

Joseph Williams was born in New Zork City. He came 
to Western New York at an early day and settled at Old 
Castle Geneva. He was in the army during a part of the 
war of 1812 and was stationed at Black Rock. When the 
report that a treaty of peace was signed reached the fort, he 
was one of ttie party sent across the Niagara River with a 
flag of truce to carry the news to the enemy. Their boat 
drifted into the rapids and narrowly escaped being carried 
over the falls Soon after the close of the war he came to 
Sodus and settled where his son. Andrew C. Williams now 
resides. There he spent the remainder of his lite. To his 
large contribution of money for the church he added consid- 
erable labor and material. He died January 9th, 1859, in 
his seventy-fifth year. 

Peter Proseus came from the Van Rensselaer Manor. 
Columbia County and settled in 1831 or 2 on the farm 
where he passed the rest of his life He was a communicant 
in the Episcopal Church before coming to Sodus, and here 
his house was the home of Episcopal ministers. He died 
Jan. 2nd, 1852 

M. N. Tillotson was from Genoa, Cayuga County. He 
came to Sodus in 1833, and with his brother George W. 
Tillotson. engaged in mercantile business. He was elected 



61 



a vestryman of the church soon after coming here. He re- 
moved to Owosso Michigan in 1837, and died there. 

William Booer lived in the viliage where Adam Tinkle- 
paugh now resides. 

Alfred Welch lived in the Centenary neighborhood, in a 
block-house at the north end of the present farm of Wesley 
Jolly. 

Dr. Henry Jones, the first clerk of the Episcopal Society 
was a practicing physician and lived in the house of Garret 
Gurnee, now the residence of L. H. Clark. He removed 
from town in a few years. 

Elisha Mather was the lather of Elisha Mather now liv- 
ing at Sodus Centre He was born at Saybrook, Conn, in 
1785, and was married in Hadlyme of the same Stats, aoout 
the year 1807, to Susan W. Willey He was a practicing 
physician, and coming ro New York, first settled at Brown- 
sville near Sackets Harbor. In the year lSlO he came to 
Sodus and first located on a farm lying on the east side of 
Salmon Creek about one mile from its mouth. In 1821 he 
removed to Sodus Centre and purchased the farm still 
owned by his son. 

He was one of th 3 first vestrymen of the church, was a 
man of large business interests, a public spirited citizen aid 
prominent in public affairs. He died in 1843 May 24th. 

Elisha Bushnell was a very early resident on the Lake 
Road, where Ephraim Teetor now resides. He was a town 
officer in the pioneer times. 

Thomas Robinson was from England and settled on the 
Geneva road north of Wallington, Strongly attached to 
the church of his fathers, he was long a prominent member 
and supporter of the Episcopal Ch'rrch of this village. He 
died Oct. 4th, 1870, aged 80 years. 

Henry Phelps was from Pultneyville. one of the sons of 
the pioneer clergyman as already related. 

Bennett C. Fitzhugh was the son <»f Col. Perigrine Fitz- 
hugh, a soldier of the revolution aad an officer of Washing- 
ton's life guard. Col. Fitzhugh came to Sodus in 1803, 
having two years before pin chased hugely at Soclus Point. 
The history of this family with its connections would form a 
long and interesting chapterin a general history of the tow... 
Bennett Fitzhugh was for many years a Government officer 
at Sodas Point. ' e afterwards removed to Wisconsin 
where he died. 

Wm N Lnmmis was the early pioneer, whose name is so 
prominent in all the early history of the town. An Interest- 
ing sketch of his life, laborr and vari ms public enterprises is 



62 



to be found in Turner's. history of Phelps and Gorham Pur- 
chase. Coming to Sod us Point in L800, he resided there 
until 1812, when he removed two miles west ?nd established 
the mills and the little village kown as "Maxwell." No 
general history of the town co ild be complete without bring- 
ing his name prominently and at l.mgth into tin* work. He 
was one of the first vestrymen of the church. He died in 
1833, and is hurried in the cemetery at the village. 

Amos Case was the father of the two brothers, James and 
Gama'iel Case. He was born in Simsbury, Conn., and was 
married there to Sarah Granger, daughter of Eiisha Gran- 
ger, the early pioneer of Phelps, and the one who purchased 
at 20 cents per acre the tract of land in Sodus that after- 
wards became "Granger's Settlement." 

Mr. Case moved to Phelps before 1800, and settled near 
tin- present village of Vienna. His ancestors were Episco- 
palians and lie was attached to that church. He used to 
ride horse-back to Geneva and to Canandaigua to attend 
service. He was one of the found trs of the Episcopal 
Church of Vienna. He came to Sodus in the fall of 1827, 
and purchased what was known as 'the old Colt farm," 
from the name of an early surveyor who reserved it for him- 
self His son James Case then married, moved here that 
fall and Mr. Case himself the next season. 

There he spent the rest of his life He die! in 1852, no 
services were being h3ld at that time in the Episcopal 
Church, and Rev. S. B. Booney, of the Methodist Church 
preached the funeral sermon, using the burial service of the 
Episcopal Church. 

Dr Elijah McKinney was born in Canada, educated there 
and admitted to practice, His wife was the sister of John 
Bryan . mentioned in these sketches. He came • ith his 
family to Sodus just after the war in 1816 or 17, and settled 
north of the village just south of the creek where Mrs. Wm. 
Pulver now lives. The following notice f om the Gospel 
Messenger of August 9th, 1828, expresses briefly the public 
loss sustained by his death : 

' Died on Sunday the 4th of August mst. in the town of 
Sodus, deeply lamented by his family, and an extensive cir- 
cle of friends and acquaintances in the 37th year of his age. 
Dr. Elijah McKinney, one of the wardens of St. John's 
Church in that place. The loss which his family, tb^ 
church and the t:,wn generally have sustained in she death 
of Dr. McKinney w .11 not easily be replaced ; to the former 
it is irreparable : the church in Sodus will long deplore the 
afflicting bereavement which has deprived hsr of one of her 



63 

ablest counselors and most liberal patrons. He displayed a 
firm and una bating zeal for its prosperity; his heart was 
ever warm ; his hand ever open in its support. His attach- 
ment to the church commenced in his early days and in 
mature life he united himself to her communion and enjoy- 
ed the spiritual consolation it afforded him. His life was 
humble and unobtrusive; he sought not to exhibit his feel- 
ings to the public gaze, nor did he reap any satisfaction from 
entering the lists of religious controversy ; but it was in the 
retirement of the closet, in family worship, in the devout ob- 
servance of the Lord's day, and in the cultivation of the moral 
virtues that his light shown with fervent and steady lustre. 
He entertained a deep sense of his last condition by nature 
and his whole trust for mercy and salvation was placed in a 
crucified Savior. During his last illness he repeatedly ex- 
pressed his conviction that he should not recover, and under 
a full assurance of the great change he made the most care- 
ful arrangement of his temporal concerns, expressed his per- 
fect resignation to the will of Heaven, his full confidence in 
a glorious immortality, and with a smile beaming on his 
countenance his soul took its everlasting flight," 



64 



CHAPTER VI. 

Other Churches. 

Free Congregational. — This society was organized Oct. 
11th, 1843. It consisted of thirty-four members. They 
held that the local Presbyterian Church was involved in the 
guilt of slavery, by its relation to slave holding churches 
represented in the General Assembly, and to such an extent 
that they could only free themselves from responsibility in 
the matter by an independent society. 

Rev. Samuel R. Ward, then of South Butler was moder- 
ator of the council and preached the sermon. Rev. David 
Slie was Secretary. 

At a business meeting, Dec. 24th, 1843, Levi Geylord 
was chosen leader and Josiah Rice deacon. Rev. Samuel 
Wire preached for the church regularly for two or three 
years. In the winter of 1847, an interesting revival occur- 
red and thirteen were added to the church. This church 
never filed any certificate of incorporation. 

The trustees were Kitchel Bell, Isaac Snow and 8. W. 
Hurlburt. 

The place of meetiug was at the school house in this vil- 
lage, and the organization was continued for eight or nine 
years. 



The Free Methodist Church of Alton was first recognized 
as ;i part of Rose Circuit. Nov. 1st 1861. Wm. Cooley was 
the first preacher in charge; Wm. Burns, class leader for 
Alton, and also ele3ted steward; other early members, C. T. 
Cuer, James Stevenson and Westbrook Case. Rev. John 
B. Stacey, D. Dempsey, John Glenn, I. B Freeland and 
M. D. McDongall have been preachers on this charge. 
Hiram Bradshnw was e'ected steward in 1862. 



65 

A meeting to effect an organization separate from Rose 
held April 18th, 1867; Rev. M, D. McDougall, chairman, 
E. D. Bradshaw, secretary. The trustees chosen wen- 
Aaron Winget, Walter Emery and James Stevenson. In 
1868, the society erected a neat chapel at an expense of 
$1,000, and it whs dedicated in the fall of 1868; Rev. B T. 
Roberts, of Rochester preached the sermon. This society 
belongs to the Susquehanna Conference of the "Free Metho- 
dist Church and there are thirty-four circuits included in 
that conference. 



Adoentisls. — An organization representing this iaith was 
made at Alton in 1869 or 70 by Elder Miles. George 
Shaver and Mr. Bowers were chosen deacons; Wni. H. 
Steele, elder; Taylor Steele, clerk and treasurer. 

The present minister is Rev. S. 0. Gove. The society 
hold services in the Stone Meeting House, Alton, and also 
at the Bell School House, west of Sodus village. Wesley 
Silvers is the present deacon, and J. 0. Gove, clerk. 



Protestant Methodists. — Ministers of this denomination 
have preached in Sodus for many years, at Alton, at the 
Walling School House and a^so at the Bay District School 
House, batter known as Salt Hollow. The Circuit belongs 
to the Onondaga Conference of the Protestant Church. The 
ministers preaching in Sodus have been J. H. Ho^an, 
James Hudson. N. R. Swift, New"land Sampson, James 
Smith, M. Prindle, W, Striker, R. Ballou and Darius 
Cooke, the last of whom is now returned forthe current year 
to this Circuit. An organization was effected at Alton in 
1869, and Philip Rankard elected leader. The present 
stewards are Isaac Clark and James Gatchell. Principal 
place of meeting, the Stone meeting house at Alton. The 
organization of 1869 was the renewal of an older one made 
in 1847, as shown by the records at Lyons. A meeting was 
held Aug. 15th of that year, at which Lawrence E. Teal 
was moderator and James Lysle, clerk. The trustees chosen 
were Ira Drake, Lawrence E. Teal .lames Lysle, Isaac 
N. Clark. The certificate was acknowledged before Wm. 
Tillotsou Justice of the Peaceand recorded April 7th, 1848, 
and this in turn was also the successor of an earlier society, 



not incorporated, formed at Sodus Point in October, 1837, 
when the the following trustees were chosen: Chauncev 
Phelps, Rufus Field, Heary Doviel, E. W. Bliton. John 
Segar, Seth Blanchard. 

In 1866, the Protestant Methodist Churc' esof the North- 
ern States, having become separated from those of the 
Southern; and having formed a connection with a portion of 
the Wesieyan Methodists dropped the word Protestant from 
their name, and are now known as "The Methodist 
Church." 

United Sacety of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. 
— A flourishing branch of this organization popularly known 
by the name of Shakers existed on Nicholas Point in this 
town for several years. They came to Sodus from New 
Lebanon about the year 1823, purchased fourteen hundred 
and fifty acres of land from Judge Nicholas and erected the 
large buildings still standing on the place and now owned 
by P. W. Parshill. They had the cleared portion of the 
tract' under excellent cultivation and their orchards and gar- 
dens were well known and justly celebrated. They remain- 
ed there about fifteen years until the great excitement over 
the expected construction of Sodus Canal. Then they sold 
to Adams, Duncan & Co. representing the canal interests 
for one hundred dollars per acre They removed to the splen 
did G-eneset Flats in Livingston County, and established them- 
selves prosperously in their new home, which with all of 
its advantages there purchased for sixty dollars an acre. The 
society still remains there. When they came to Sodus their 
elders were John Lockwood and Jeremiah Talbott and their 
elderesses, Esther and Lucy so-called. Lucius Southwick 
was the principal deacon as temporal agent. They con- 
sisted of three and sometimes four families, were industrious 
and prosperous, and besides their farming owned a grist 
> i ill and saw mill. Their grounds and their worship were 
matters of inte:est and curiosity aid their place was quite 
a resort for visitors all of whom were courteously and hospi- 
tably received. 

* The tract of land they owned in Sodus had quite an after 
history. Adams, Duncan & Co. sold it to a Fourierite As- 
sociation, but after a brief existence, they disbanded and it 
fell back into the bauds of the canal men. 



Cliristian Church of Alton. — Under the preaching and 
labors of Rev. Amasa Stanton and Rev. Mr. Mosher, this 
church was formed in the winter of 1842-3. 



67 

(George Gould was the first clerk. John G. Kelly and 
John Baker were the first deacons. Rev. Mr. Mosher preach- 
ed for four years and was followed by another minister of 
the same name. From Marion, Elder Galloway and Elder 
Case also came occasionally to Alton. 

This Society at that time was the only one actively at 
work there, and under their labors an extensive revival pre- 
vailed through that part of the town. The stone meeting 
house belonging to this society was built about the year 
1851 The builier was William Walker, and William Fow- 
ler was the trustee in charge of the business of the church. 

The society made a legal organization at a meeting held 
June 231, 1^51; George Leigh ton. moderator and James R. 
Corwine, Clerk The trustees chosen were George Leighton, 
Wm. Walker, John G. Kelly. Frederick Utter and Wm 
R K. Hone. The certificate was acknowledged before 
Nathaniel Kellogg and recorded September 24th, 1851. 
Owing to some supposed informality, the organization was 
renewed and the certificate again recorded January 22d, 
1853. In this last paper th3 trustees are the same, but 
the same of Rev. Amasa Stanton appears as moderator 
and Edgar M. Galloway, Clerk, and the Christian Church 
near Joy having been organized in the meantime, the name 
of the Alton Society was changed to the "Second Christian 
Church of Sodus." This paper was acknowledged before 
lion. S. R. Strong. 

The stone meeting house at Alton belongs to this socie- 
ty, though other denominations have always been allowed 
to freely meet there when it was not occupied by the Chris- 
tian Society i 



First Christian Church of Sodus. — An organization undei 
this name was effected in the Wallace District southwest of 
Joy, October, 1st, 1856. John W. Allen was moderator of 
the meeting and Joseph Green, clerk. The trustees chosen 
were Joseph Green, John W Allen, Orville Carpenter and 
Adam Tinklepaugh. The certificate was acknowledged be- 
fore David Leighton, justice of the peace, and recorded Feb* 
rnary 5th, 1853. 

The society have had religious services at the Wallace 
School House for several years, ministers from the Christian 
Church of Marion supplying that appointment to some ex- 
tent. Rev. Mr. Depew residing in the neighborhood has also 
preached considerably there, but the formal church organiza- 
tion made in 1852 has not been maintained. 



68 

Free Will Baptist. — This Society was organiz )d April 
6th, 1843. Rev. Samuel Wire was chosen moderator and 
Gideon Robinson, clerk. Samuel Wire, Benjamin Chap- 
man, John D. Robinson, David Phillips and Willard Par- 
ker were elected Trustees. The certificate was acknowl- 
edged before George W. Scott one of the Judges of the Court 
of Oomrnon Pleas and recorded May 6th. 1843. This 
society built the meeting house in the south part of the town 
and under the ministry of Rev Samuel Wire had religious 
services regularly for some years. By deaths and removals 
they were finally so weakeaed that services were suspended 
and the organization ceased to exist. The meeting house 
was finally sold to the German Evangelical Association. 

Elder Wire was an active working minister preaching 
not only in their meeting house but also at the village tor the 
Congregational Church and in the stone schoo. house in the 
north-west part of the town. He went to Michigan and 
died some years since. 

Evangelical Association. — This GermanChurch,popularly 
known as "Albrights," have a membership in the south part 
of the town of forty or fifty. They own th3 property for- 
merly belonging to the Free Will Baptist Society. The ap- 
pointment belongs to the Newark Circuit, and the minister 
resides at Newark. The society is maintaining regular relig- 
ious services, conducted partly in the German and partly in 
the English languages. This denomination in the United 
States originated in Pennsylvania in 1800. Within the last 
25 years it has made a vigorous and rapid growth, having a 
membership of nearly 100,000, with fifteen annual confer- 
ences and a thousand preachers. The church forbids the 
use of intoxicating liquors, and refuses church fellowship to 
those who manufacture and sell them. 



Roman Catholic— This church has no organization in the 
town, but services are now held once a month at Lummis 
Hall, Sodus Point and a proposition to form a society is 
under consideration. 



1st Methodist Church of Sodus Centre. — A society under 
this name was formed Feb. 1st, 1859; Jacob Simmons act- 
ing as moderator of the meeting, and Orrin Sherman, Clerk. 



69 

Trustees were chosen as follows: Peter Brant. John F. 
Proseus, Jacob Simmons. Elisha Mather andOrrin Sherman. 
The certificate was acknowledged before A. P. Warren,Esq. 
and recorded Feb. 9th, 1859. Services by Methodist minis- 
ters were held in a hall over the store of R. S. Borradaile for 
two or three years, but the formal organization was continu- 
ed only a short time. 



Johnson Methodist Episcopal Society. — The organization 
of this body February 3d, 1845, shows how strong was the 
movement to build at the Johnson Corners and how much 
sacrifice was required to bring about the final union at the vil- 
lage. At the first meeting Rev. Beijamin Sabin presided 
and Jacob Andrews was clerk. Eight trustees wereappoint- 
ed as follows: Samuel L. Morse, Michael Tinklepaugh, Jacob 
Andrews, Collins Wells, Jeremiah White, Phineas Knapp, 
Jr., Michael Suiith, Marcus Johnson and Abraham Stine- 
hart. The certificate was acknowledged before Judge Sis- 
son and recorded June 26th, 1838. The trustees took some 
steps to perfect their organization and built a house as di- 
rected, but they were superseded in a short time by the suc- 
cess of the union movement at the village, and the organi- 
zation after a little while was abandoned. 



Uniuer&alist Church — No society ol this denomination 
has existed in the town but preaching was maintained quite 
regularly at the school house in the village for some months 
during various periods from 1836 to 1850, and ministers of 
that ehurch trom Ne ark and elsewhere have often attend- 
ed funeral services. 



OMITTED FROM A PREVIOUS CHAPTEU. 

Flavel Kingsley was bom in Stockbridge, Mass., June 
13th. 1787. Became to Western New York in 1804, and 
bought land on the Holland Purchase. 

In a few years he came to Sodus and having married 
Sarah .Johnson, sister of the wife of Mark Johnson, in 1809 
or 10. be settled on the farm now owned by Wm. J. Filkius. 
Tn a few years he purchased the farnTnow owned by -lames 



To 

Knapp, where he spent the remainder of his life, He was 
one of the found 32s of the Presbyterian Church and a mem- 
ber forty-two years, but entertaining strong congregational 
sentiments and withal of a modest unassuming disposition; 
he repeatedly dejlined to be eVcted to the office of Ruling 
elder. He died April 8th, 1854 

The Sunday SchWs of the town might very properly be 
noticed in such a work as this, but the intended limits as- 
signed to the pamphlet, will not allow space for such a pur- 
pose. Besides there are few or no schools that kept any 
records in early times, sufficient to furnish names or dates 
to the Historian. 

The resolution of the Methodist Conference with refer- 
<nce to this subject already given shows that Sunday Schools 
became an important part of church work from forty to 
forty-five years ago. They formed a new department of 
christian activity, into which the younger members of 
c lurches entered with energy and enthusiasm. Besides the 
schools in the churches, many neighborhood schools have 
been sustained for years. Far back of the Sabbath school 
age, too, in 1815 or 16, Maria Fairbanks, daughter of the old 
pioneer clergyman, was wont to gather the children of the 
neighborhood together for religious instruction, and quite a 
revival arose among her little congregation. She was 
doubtless the earliest founder of special religious work 
for children in this section 

In 1838 Wm. J . Filkins and Elijah Kings-ley uniting in 
harmony trom two different churches, established several 
neigborhood schools in the south part of this town and the 
northern part of Arcadia. Some of these remained under 
their charge for ten or twelve years. The Sunday Schools 
in Dodd's District, Sentell's and the Bay District have been 
perhaps the largest and best sustained of neighborhood 
schools awa\ from the churches. 






71 



ERRATA. 

PA&B 5. For College, read Cottage. 
." 24. " Sarah, " Phebe. 
" 25, 26. " Westfleld " Westford. 

26. " John W. Bell has since died. 
63. " For last, read lost. 



APPENDIX. 
PAGE v. For C. C. Sogers, read E. C Rogers. 
" v. " David Paul, ; ' Daniel Paul. 

" vii. Seba Norton's history should be signed by 
Ezra Chatfield. 



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